Billy Budd

Benjamin Britten's masterful 1951 opera—adapted from Herman Melville's classic novella with a libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier—is a powerful, moving parable of the eternal confrontation between good and evil. Set at sea on a British man-of-war during the Napoleonic wars, the story centers on the handsome and naïvely good title character, impressed into service and then targeted for destruction by malevolent master-at-arms Claggart, who accuses Budd of plotting mutiny. When the lad can't respond verbally—stymied by his stutter—he lashes out physically, striking a fatal blow, after which the fair-minded but rigidly legalistic captain stands by while Budd is convicted and executed. In this brilliant 2010 performance from the Glyndebourne Festival, the London Philharmonic under Mark Elder delivers a scrupulous reading of the intricate orchestral score, backed by outstanding vocalism. Jacques Imbrailo is a full-voiced Billy, Phillip Ens a darkly menacing Claggart, and John Mark Ainsley a superb embodiment of the tormented Capt. Vere. Boasting a fine set by Christopher Oram and skilled staging by Michael Grandage, this rendition is musically and dramatically the equal of the classic English National Opera version (VL-10/90). Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo, extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a cast gallery. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (F. Swietek)