Customer Reviews

Britten - Billy Budd / Tim Albery · David Atherton · Thomas Allen · ENO

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sir Thomas Allen in his autobiographical book 'Foreign Parts' wrote that he and the rest of the cast of this ENO production could not believe the queues around the block for tickets for this production. Well, I can well understand the public taking this production to its heart. In its own quite understated way this austere and stylised production by Tim Albury is a winner on every level. Each of the many roles in this all male opera has been filled with a singing actor who really has what it takes; especially Phillip Langridge who instills his Captain Vere with all of the confused pain his role demands, Richard van Allan as a true black hole of a man as Claggart (although there does seem to have been some audio re-recording over his aria) and, of course, Sir Thomas' Billy is so moving in its simplicity that at times it is unbearable. The chorus is very fine, but could have been more overwhelming in their 'Blow her away' moment, but the orchestra is truly astonishing in its accuracy and power. David Atherton conducts the performance of his career. His musical direction is in turn delicate and earth-shattering without ever becoming bombastic, and how unusual it is to notice a conductor who actually listens and allows every line, whether vocal or orchestral, to be heard. A truly outstating document of a stunning performance!

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

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.

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.

The DVD under consideration is no longer available, having been discontinued by Image Entertainment and for reasons known only to the the gods, it has not been picked up by another company.

It is the work of the ENO and is directed conservatively by Tim Albery. I presume that it was filmed in the Colliseum, ENO's house, but there is no data. Image manged to compete with Kultur in the information provided by manufacturer--or lack of it would be more appropriate. The most radical aspect of the production is a highly raked stage which surely is a nightmare to work with. Aside from that there is nothing that is remotely "avant garde". Alas the only competition was released after this item became no longer available, a film with Pears and Glossop, in B & W. Quite frankly I will opt for Philip Langridge who is superb (did this man ever turn in a performance that was sub par?) and this production whicn is not to say that a new BB is not in order. Why Keenlyside's performance of several years ago was not taped is shameful for surely he was the Bill Budd of his time. It could be argued that Allen was too old, but this was a performance to be seen on the stage and hence I find that argument irrelevant. His singing is glorious and the Darbies aria exquisite. Indeed all the singing is first rate: if this represents ENO standards then they are quite high.

The Met has a BB, the John Dexter production; it is a wonderful production and also boasts Philip Langridge as Vere. I don't remember the rest of the cast but it should be released. This opera may not have the number of productions under its belt as, say, Peter Grimes, but there is no doubt that it is a maimstay opera and deserves better treatment. In the meantime this DVD is far more than just a stopgap.

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.

The picture quality far surpasses the video, and has the extra advantages of chapter search and subtittles. (Even though the singing is clear, the subtittles makes it that much easier to follow what's being sung. I also like the fact that they didn't use the annoying musical notes next to the words to indicate singing - as it's an opera of COURSE we know they're singing!)

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.