A psychological journey, told as a thriller, into the depths of the human soul. Benjamin Britten’s opera Billy Budd plunges us headlong into an oppressive tale set aboard a British ship, in an acclaimed production that won the 2017 International Opera Awards and the 2018 Diapason d’Or. Ivor Bolton and Deborah Warner direct a spectacular cast led by Jacques Imbrailo, Toby Spence and Brindley Sherratt.
Based on the novel by Herman Melville, Billy Budd explores the eternal conflict between absolute purity and intrinsic evil, as the overwhelming kindness and beauty of the young Billy awaken a destructive and self-destructive obsession in his superior, who decides to conspire to condemn him to an unjust death.
Opera in two acts
Music by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Libretto by Edward Morgan Forster and Eric Crozier, based on the work Billy Budd, by Herman Melville
Premiered at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London, on December 1, 1951 (first version) and January 9, 1964 (revised version).
Premiere at the Teatro Real
New production of the Teatro Real, in coproduction with the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
Artistic team
Conductor | Ivor Bolton
Stage director | Deborah Warner
Set designer | Michael Levine
Costumes designer | Chloé Obolensky
Lighting designer | Jean Kalman
Choreographer | Kim Brandstrup
Chorus master | Andrés Máspero
Children's chorus master | Ana González
Cast
Billy Budd | Jacques Imbrailo
Edward Fairfax Vere | Toby Spence
John Claggart | Brindley Sherratt
Mr. Redburn | Thomas Oliemans
Mr. Flint | David Soar
Lieutenant Ratcliffe | Torben Jürgens
Red Whiskers | Christopher Gillet
Donald | Duncan Rock
Dansker | Clive Bayley
A novice | Sam Furness
Squeak | Francisco Vas
Bosun | Manel Esteve
First officer | Gerardo Bullón
Second officer | Tomeu Bibiloni
Novice's friend | Borja Quiza
Watchman | Jordi Casanova
Arthur Jones | Isaac Galán
Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra
Pequeños Cantores de la ORCAM
