Billy Budd, Op. 50, is an opera by Benjamin Britten to a libretto by the English novelist E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier, based on the short novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville. Originally in four acts, it was first performed at the Royal Opera House, London, on 1 December 1951; it was later revised as a two-act opera with a prologue and an epilogue.
| Librettist | E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier (Based on the short novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville) |
| Date of composition | 1951 (January 1950 - 2 November 1951; revised in 1960) |
| Premiered | 1951, December 1st (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden) in London, United Kingdom |
| Dedicated to | To George and Marion, December 1951 |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | BTC 1040 |
| Approx. duration | 152 minutes |
| Spoken language | English |
| Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Captain Vere of HMS Indomitable
Voice (Baritone) - Billy Budd Voice (Bass) - John Claggart, Master-at-arms Voice (Baritone) - Mr. Redburn, First Lieutenant Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Mr. Flint, Sailing Master Voice (Baritone) - Lieutenant Ratcliffe Voice (Tenor) - Red Whiskers, an impressed man Voice (Baritone) - Donald Voice (Bass) - Dansker, an old seaman Voice (Tenor) - A Novice Voice (Baritone) - The Novice's Friend Voice (Tenor) - Squeak Voice (Bass) - Bosun Voice (Bass) - First Mate Voice (Bass) - Second Mate Voice (Tenor) - Maintop Voice (Tenor) - Arthur Jones, an impressed man Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Cabin Boy 4x Voice (Treble) - ; Four midshipmen |
| In listings |
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Famous Works
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| Autotranslations beta |
Benjamin Britten: Billy Budd, BTC 1040 Benjamin Britten: Billy Budd, BTC 1040 Benjamin Britten: Billy Budd, BTC 1040 |