Billy Budd (opera) - Performance History

Performance History

The opera was originally written in four acts. This version is occasionally revived, such as at the Vienna State Opera in 2001 and 2011. It has been recorded at least twice.

In 1960 Britten revised the score substantially in preparation for a BBC broadcast, and compressed it into two acts. Britten changed Vere's first appearance after the prologue from a public speech to a private moment alone in his cabin. He eliminated Vere's appearance before the crew at the end of Act I. He made the revisions because, at the time, the singer Peter Pears could not vocally achieve all aspects of the role of Vere. Britten changed some of the structural balance from the contrasting Acts III and IV.

The 1966 BBC broadcast was conducted by Britten, with Joseph Ward as Billy, Peter Pears as Vere, and Michael Langdon as Claggart. The 1967 Decca studio recording was made of the two-act version; the recording sessions were attended by staff from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where the opera had been revived in this version in 1964.

Billy Budd (in the four-act original) received its United States première in 1952 in performances by Indiana University Opera Company. The opera was produced on November 6, 1970, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, with Uppman reprising the title role; the cast also included Richard Lewis as Vere, Geraint Evans as Claggart, Bruce Yarnell as Redburn, Raymond Michalski as Flint, and Arnold Voketaitis as Ratcliffe. It has become part of the repertory of the New York Metropolitan Opera. A 2010 production by the Glyndebourne Festival Opera marked the operatic directorial debut of the theatre director Michael Grandage.

Baritones who have sung the role of Billy Budd include Sir Thomas Allen, Simon Keenlyside, Richard Stilwell, Nathan Gunn, Rod Gilfry, Bo Skovhus, Thomas Hampson, and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. Notable Veres have included Philip Langridge and Anthony Rolfe Johnson.