Amazon.com: Perhaps no Benjamin Britten opera so forcefully explores the composer's recurring theme of the destruction of innocence as Billy Budd, adapted from the Herman Melville novella about an angelic midshipman who is fated to his demise when he clashes with the inscrutably evil Claggart. It's the character of Captain Vere who is the essence of any Billy Budd production (Britten originally wrote it for his lover and best interpreter, the velvet-voiced tenor Peter Pears), and this English National Opera staging from 1988 boasts the finest contemporary Vere, Philip Langridge, who creates a nuanced and sympathetic portrait of a man torn between duty and honor. Thomas Allen's Billy seems too knowing, not the innocent he should be, but he sings with great beauty. Richard Van Allan's Claggart is evil incarnate, yet with enough shading in his singing and acting to hint at welcome ambiguities. David Atheron's conducting is, as befits this Britten specialist, skillfully done.
This straightforward English National Opera production of a masterly music drama (in its original four-act version, by the way) is a most welcome addition to DVD, even if there are some caveats: the Dolby 5.1 sound could be more forceful, and the opening intro (by an unidentified narrator) promises a talk with librettist Eric Crozier "at the interval" that never materializes! Otherwise, this version of Billy Budd remains a vivid reminder that 20th century opera, at least in Britten's hands, could be thought-provoking and extremely entertaining. --Kevin Filipski
BIlly Budd disappoints It is good to have a DVD of Billy Budd, perhaps Britten's greatest opera, but this ENO production, that should have had everything going for it - experienced Billy Budd cast, good conductor and director - simply misfires. Perfectly OK to get to know the opera, but for anyone who has seen a production that wrings the soul(such as the recent WNO (Welsh National Opera)/Australian Opera Company production conducted by Richard Hickox) this offering seems insipid, and does not convey the real power this opera has.
The fundamental problem seems to be one of body-language. With the close-up shots in this DVD, too many of the cast seem to be concentrating on the singing rather than the character (and this shows in the characterization of the voices), and their body-language fails to convey the emotions. This is reflected in the conducting by David Atherton - perfectly servicable, but without any of the bite and fire that Britten himself, or Hickox, to name but two, have brought to this score.
The actual procution itself reflects this rather bland impression. The Napoleonic period costumes (and one can hardly avoid them) are reduced to bare, simple essentials, as if half-formed, and though there are visual moments that have considerable impact, these are few and far between. Perhaps the whole thing is summarized by the midshipmen: a line of boy singers sanding side by side to one side of the stage - no colour, no vibrancy, no particular involvement with the action.
So if you see this, yes, you will get some concept of the opera, but no real idea how powerful it can be. If Covent Garden ever revive their famous production, where the entire ship was on stage, cut away so all the decks can be seen - and film it with a cast of this calibre really working with an electric conductor - then that would be the DVD to cherish. In the meantime, WNO, where are you? Their procution would have made a great DVD.
Mark Morris
The only dvd recording of a masterpiece At least, the only recording on dvd of one of the masterpieces of the 2oth century music; Britten opera, based on Melville's book and with a libretto by Crozier and Forster (!) is a marvellous opera, rich of ambiguities and dark music. The star of the opera is not Billy himself but Vere: here we have the greatest successor of Peter Pears, Langridge. Van Allan (Claggart) is clearly presented as a miltonian Satan, full of unhappiness and yet very proud, terrible and self-hating for his physical attraction to Billy, Thomas Allen is a superb Billy but he really does not have the good and freslooking appearance requested by such a role.I hope we'll soon can capture on dvd Kenlyside performance.
Powerful -- Captures the Essence of Melville This is one of the most powerful of the 50-60 opera DVDs I personally have managed to view so far. Britten somehow seemed to get wonderful librettists -- for example, the libretto for The Turn of the Screw captures the essence of James' novel in about five percent of the words James used. The same goes for the libretto Crozier and Forster (yes, THE E. M. Forster) wrote for this opera. They have absolutely captured the dramatic essence of Billy Budd, Foretopman in a form that Britten could then use to express effectively through his music.
If you read the various reviews of this production (for the originals as well as the recording), you will hear carping to the effect that (1) Thomas Allen is too old to be Billy Budd; (2) the set is too abstract; (3) the older Vere shouldn't be on stage at the climax; and so on. This is all nit-picking nonsense. The positives of this production so far outweigh the negatives that the overall result is overwhelming. You will find few opera video recordings as moving and effective as this one.
By the Way: one of the other Amazon reviewers complains about how the orchestral interlude between the scenes in the final act is cut in half. This is not an issue with the DVD -- everything proceeds seamlessly.
Fine Production; Great Score This is a finely acted production. The only flaw is some odd business at the beginning with books (why are sailors rowing books? Peculiar symbolism). Once the story gets going, the odd staging disappears. The singers are well cast, and the parts finely sung. The DVD has very clear sound and a perfect picture.
Poor Thomas Allen I feel bad that the great talent of Thomas Allen got stuck in such a crappy dark production. It's unfortunate. Allen sounds gorgeous. The Claggart is not my cup of tea. Ver is also very good. The chorus (a vital part of the show) needs to have some more music rehearsals. They are neither precise nor musical. Worth watching.. but not on top of the must have list.
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