| English National Opera - Billy Budd Reviews | 19 April 2021 |
Benedict Nelson
Gwynne Howell, Benedict Nelson, Duncan Rock, Michael Colvin
Nicky Spence, Matthew Rose
Kim Begley
Gerard Collett, Darren Jeffrey, Jonathan Summers
Performance reviews
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Billy BuddEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 26 | |
Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd turns Melville's novel into a gripping psychosexual drama |
 14 Jul 12 / Telegraph |
La ópera del mar |
| 14 Jul 12 / Miami Clásica |
Das Budd |
| 5 Jul 12 / Out West Arts |
Secret desires in the heart of ‘Billy Budd’ |
| 4 Jul 12 / New York Times |
Austerity Britten isn't much fun in depressing opera Billy Budd |
| 30 Jun 12 / Daily Mail |
David Alden’s production for ENO of Britten’s great opera is a thoroughly enjoyable sail |
| 29 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
A stark portrayal of Billy Budd |
| 26 Jun 12 / The Opera Critic |
A great evening and an unmissable realisation of a masterpiece |
| 26 Jun 12 / The Stage |
The hero of the hour is undoubtedly Edward Gardner |
| 26 Jun 12 / Opera Britannia |
Rule those bloody waves |
| 26 Jun 12 / New York Times |
A grim, ghostly 'Billy Budd' on British stage |
| 25 Jun 12 / San Francisco Chronicle |
This Budd delivers a deliberate, carefully told narrative |
| 24 Jun 12 / The Observer |
Magnificent at full throttle, an enlarged chorus observes Britten's detailed dynamic markings to the letter |
| 24 Jun 12 / Independent on Sunday |
An oppressive setting and an overwhelming chorus |
| 21 Jun 12 / Londonist |
Billy Budd is a magnificent opera and the ENO does justice to it |
| 21 Jun 12 / Musical Criticism |
It’s worth donning your stripy top and deck shoes for a voyage to The Coliseum |
| 21 Jun 12 / So So Gay |
Though Britten’s opera is sung by a superb cast, the ambiguities in David Alden’s staging come at a cost |
| 21 Jun 12 / Financial Times (via Google) |
A fine cast of singers makes for a thrilling performance |
| 20 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
Brutal and electrifying |
| 20 Jun 12 / The Guardian |
Ultimately there is something missing from the production, and its absence was keenly felt - the sea |
| 20 Jun 12 / Classical Source |
A huge disappointment after ENO's compelling Dutchman |
| 20 Jun 12 / Musical Pointers |
Given Alden’s track record, this is a bitterly disappointing evening |
| 19 Jun 12 / What's on Stage |
A thrilling company achievement - world class |
| 19 Jun 12 / Independent |
How to make Britten's great opera a bloodless bore: junk the context and get the cast wrong |
| 19 Jun 12 / The Arts Desk |
ENO's new production of Billy Budd hasn't mastered the ship – or the characters |
| 19 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
Alden unfolds the action in nightmarish slow motion |
| 19 Jun 12 / Evening Standard |
Production details
Cast
Begley, Nelson, Rose, Summers, Jeffrey, Waddington, Colvin, Rock, Howell, Spence, Farnsworth, Norman, Rupp, Dunn, Stoughton, Collett
(c) Gardner (d) Alden
Performance dates
18, 23, 27, 30 June, 3, 5, 8(m) July 2012
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