Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16133 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-09
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: AC-3, Black & White, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 158 minutes

DVD Description
Tracklist 1. Britten: Billy Budd - Opening Credits 2. I am an old man who has experienced much Benjamin Britten 3. Pull, my bantams! Benjamin Britten 4. Boat ahoy! Benjamin Britten 5. I heard, your honour! Benjamin Britten 6. Christ, the poor chap! Benjamin Britten 7. Boy! My compliments to Mr. Redburn Benjamin Britten 8. Any danger of French notions spreading this side, Sir? Benjamin Britten 9. We are, sir. Claggart is an able one Benjamin Britten 10. Land on the port bow, sir Benjamin Britten 11. Blow her away, Blow her to Hilo Benjamin Britten 12. Come along Dansker and sing Benjamin Britten 13. O beauty, handsomeness goodness Benjamin Britten 14. Come here. Remember your promise Benjamin Britten 15. Billy! Hist! Billy Budd! Benjamin Britten 16. Dansker, old friend, glad to see you Benjamin Britten 17. I don't like the look of the mist, Mr. Redburn Benjamin Britten 18. This is our moment Benjamin Britten 19. There you are again, Master-at-arms Benjamin Britten 20. O this cursed mist Benjamin Britten 21. Claggart, John Claggart, beware! Benjamin Britten 22. The mists have cleared Benjamin Britten 23. William Budd, you are accused by Captain Vere Benjamin Britten 24. I accept their verdict Benjamin Britten 25. Look! Through the port Benjamin Britten 26. Here! Baby! Dansker, old friend Benjamin Britten 27. Interlude Benjamin Britten 28. According to the articles of War Benjamin Britten 29. We committed his body to the deep Benjamin Britten 30. Britten: Billy Budd - Closing Credits

Synopsis
A performance of Benjamin Britten's BILLY BUDD, conducted by Charles Mackerras.

Customer Reviews

billy budd (mackerras)
A wonderful performance, conducted by the master!

Sound quality far better than expected.

When opera is not quite opera
"Billy Budd" is a very different kettle of fish from "Peter Grimes", and this 1966 TV production is very different from the 1969 version of Peter Grimes. The "buggers' opera", as Sir Thomas Beecham facetiously dubbed it, has an all male cast and comes short of Grimes in lyrical afflatus. Peter Pears is, as one would have imagined, excellent as "Starry" Vere, and Peter Glossop makes a very good job of the leading role. The action takes place in a convincingly accurate mock-up of an English man-o'-war of the period, and the visual effect of the black and white photography with lively camera work and montage is somehow reminiscent of a film like the Laughton "Mutiny on the Bounty". And yet, with the virtual abandonment of theatrical convention the result is not entirely happy. At times the music seems to be commenting on the images that predominate, and one has the disorienting impression of a movie soundtrack. Unlike the later production of "Peter Grimes", which achieves an ideal synthesis between realism and convention.