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This five DVD set is an essential collection for any fan of Benjamin Britten. Each performance is uniquely captivating, featuring renowned performers and directors. Bring the works of this great composer to life from the comfort of your own home.
The turbulent, isolated fishing community of Peter Grimes is transposed to a merciless 1980s society in Richard Jones’s production, where mutual distrust and dislike have appalling consequences. An ‘outstanding’ Sarah Connolly (The Guardian) stars in The Rape of Lucretia, navigating this difficult tale with superb poise and supported by acclaimed baritone Christopher Maltman in the role of Prince Tarquinius. Billy Budd is grippingly staged aboard the claustrophobic HMS Indomitable, with Jacques Imbrailo portraying the troubled sailor and John Mark Ainsley as the tormented Captain Vere in the 2010 Glyndebourne Festival Opera production by Michael Grandage. More light-hearted is the Royal Opera staging of Gloriana, penned by Britten to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Focussing on the first Queen Elizabeth’s stormy relationship with the Earl of Essex, the production features Susan Bullock as the monarch and Toby Spence as the hot-headed and ultimately treacherous Essex. Finally, Edward Gardner conducts English National Opera in Deborah Warner’s highly acclaimed production of Death in Venice. John Graham-Hall stars as the ageing Gustav von Aschenbach, whose attraction for a beautiful young Polish boy has fatal consequences. These productions from some of the world’s best opera houses offer five masterful performances that are an ideal way to experience the music of Benjamin Britten.
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Peter Grimes (La Scala, Milan)
Peter Grimes: John Graham-Hall
Ellen Orford: Susan Gritton
Captain Balstrode: Christopher Purves
Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala
Conductor: Robin Ticciati
Director: Richard Jones
Year: 2012
The Rape of Lucretia (ENO)
Lucretia: Sarah Connolly
Tarquinius: Christopher Maltman
Female Chorus: Orla Boylan
Male Chorus: John Mark Ainsley
Orchestra of English National Opera
Conductor: Paul Daniel
Director: David McVicar
Year: 2001
Billy Budd (Glyndebourne Festival)
Captain Vere: John Mark Ainsley
Billy Budd: Jacques Imbrailo
Claggart: Philip Ens
Glyndebourne Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Mark Elder
Director: Michael Grandage
Year: 2010
Gloriana (Royal Opera)
Elizabeth I: Susan Bullock
Earl of Essex: Toby Spence
Countess of Essex: Patricia Bardon
Lady Rich: Kate Royal
Mountjoy: Mark Stone
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Paul Daniel
Director: Richard Jones
Year: 2013
Death in Venice (ENO)
Gustav von Aschenbach: John Graham-Hall
Traveller/Elderly Fop/Gondolier/Barber/Hotel Manager/Player/Dionysus: Andrew Shore
Apollo: Tim Mead
Tadzio: Sam Zaldivar
Orchestra and Chorus of English National Opera
Conductor: Edward Gardner
Director: Deborah Warner
Year: 2013
Picture: 16:9
Sound: PCM stereo / DTS 5.1 / DD 2.0
Format: NTSC
Region code: 0 worldwide
Running time: 817 mins (7 DVDs)
Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/IT/ES/KO/JA
