Billy Budd

Album by Benjamin Britten & Nathan Gunn & Ian Bostridge & Gidon Saks & Neal Davies & Jonathan Lemalu & Matthew Rose & London Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Chorus & Daniel Harding

Billy Budd is an opera by English composer Benjamin Britten, first performed in 1951. Scored for orchestra and chorus, it features Britten's characteristic blend of clear vocal writing, modal-inflected harmonies and varied orchestral colouring to portray its maritime drama, and it is a mid-career opera that contributed to his development as an opera composer.
First released: 15th September 2008

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Billy Budd: I heard your honour! (Claggart/Squeak/Novice's Friend)
    3:53
  2. 2.
    Billy Budd: I don't like the look of the mist (Vere/First Lieutenant)
    1:48
  3. 3.
    Billy Budd: Prologue 'I am an old man' (Vere)
    5:00
  4. 4.
    Billy Budd: With great regret I must disturb your honour (Claggart/Vere)
    1:39
  5. 5.
    Billy Budd: Pull, my bantams! Pull, my sparrow-legs!...Who did that? (First Mate et al)
    6:55
  6. 6.
    Billy Budd: Come along kid! Come along! (Novice's Friend/Novice/Chorus)
    4:02
  7. 7.
    Billy Budd: Deck ahoy! Enemy sail on starboard bow! (Maintop et al)
    3:22
  8. 8.
    Billy Budd: Christ! The poor chap, The poor little runt! (Billy/Dansker/Red Whiskers/Donald)
    1:27
  9. 9.
    Billy Budd: Guard boat! Indomitable! (Maintop et al)
    3:29
  10. 10.
    Billy Budd: First man forward! (Claggart et al)
    2:10
  11. 11.
    Billy Budd: What's that? What's those whistles? (Billy/Donald/Claggart/First Mate/Second Mate/Bosun)
    1:17
  12. 12.
    Billy Budd: Who'll volunteer to beard 'em in the smoke? (Vere et al.)
    7:46
  13. 13.
    Billy Budd: There you are again, Master-at-arms (Vere/Claggart/Boy)
    4:46
  14. 14.
    Billy Budd: Your name? - Billy Budd, sir (Claggart/Billy/First Lieutenant/Sailing Master)
    2:43
  15. 15.
    Billy Budd: Starry Vere we call him (Donald/Billy/Chorus/Red Whiskers/Dansker/Bosun)
    2:26
  16. 16.
    Billy Budd: O this cursed mist (Vere/First Lieutenant/Sailing Master/Ratcliffe)
    4:44
  17. 17.
    Billy Budd: Billy Budd, king of the birds (Billy/Sailing Master/First Lieutenant/Ratcliffe)
    2:39
  18. 18.
    Billy Budd: Boy! - Yes sir! (Vere/Boy)
    3:32
  19. 19.
    Billy Budd: Claggart, John Claggart, beware! I'm not so easily deceived (Vere/Billy)
    3:52
  20. 20.
    Billy Budd: Gentlemen, The King! (Vere/First Lieutenant/Sailing Master)
    6:25
  21. 21.
    Billy Budd: Ay, at Spithead the men may have had their grievances (Vere/Sailing Master/First Lieutenant)
    1:01
  22. 22.
    Billy Budd: Master-at-arms and foretopman, I speak to you both (Vere/Claggart/Billy)
    3:04
  23. 23.
    Billy Budd: God o' mercy! (Vere/Boy)
    1:58
  24. 24.
    Billy Budd: We are, sir. Claggart is an able one...Land on the port bow, sir (First Lieutenant/Vere/Sailing Master/Ratcliffe)
    6:51
  25. 25.
    Billy Budd: Blow her away, Blow her to Hilo (Red Whiskers/Chorus/Billy/Donald/Dansker)
    2:41
  26. 26.
    Billy Budd: Gentlemen, William Budd here has killed the Master-at-arms (Vere/First Lieutenant/Sailing Master/Ratcliffe)
    1:23
  27. 27.
    Billy Budd: We're off to Samoa (Donald/Chorus/Red Whiskers/Billy/Donald/Dansker)
    3:48
  28. 28.
    Billy Budd: William Budd, you are accused... (First Lieutenant/Vere/Billy)
    5:47
  29. 29.
    Billy Budd: Hi! You...A...A... (Billy et al)
    3:03
  30. 30.
    Billy Budd: Poor fellow, who could save him? (First Lieutenant/Sailing Master/Ratcliffe)
    4:22
  31. 31.
    Billy Budd: I accept their verdict (Vere)
    7:15
  32. 32.
    Billy Budd: Over the water, over the ocean (Chorus/Claggart)
    7:43
  33. 33.
    Billy Budd: Come here, Remember your promise (Claggart/Novice)
    5:43
  34. 34.
    Billy Budd: Look! Through the port comes the moon-shine astray! (Billy)
    5:44
  35. 35.
    Billy Budd: Billy!...Hist! Billy Budd! (Novice/Billy)
    4:13
  36. 36.
    Billy Budd: Here! Baby! (Dansker/Billy)
    3:58
  37. 37.
    Billy Budd: Dansker, old friend, glad to see you! (Billy/Dansker)
    4:48
  38. 38.
    Billy Budd: And farewell to ye, old Rights o' Man! (Billy)
    5:18
  39. 39.
    Billy Budd: Interlude
    3:08
  40. 40.
    Billy Budd: "According to the Articles of War..." (All except Vere)
    2:02
  41. 41.
    Billy Budd: Down all hands! And see that they go! (First Lieutenant et al)
    2:50
  42. 42.
    Billy Budd: We committed his body to the deep (Vere)
    4:45

Credits