BRITTEN: Billy Budd - John Mark Ainsley, Jacques Imbrailo, Phillip Ens, London Philharmonic Orchestra (3 CDS)

Based on Herman Melville's novella of naval life in the late 18th century, Billy Budd is a gripping reflection on good and evil, innocence and corruption. Director Michael Grandage scrupulously recreates the claustrophobic environment about HMS Indomitable, the setting for fatal tensions between the young sailor Billy Budd, the thoughtful Captain Vere and the malevolent master at arms John Claggart.

Composer: Benjamin Britten

Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.

Cast: John Mark Ainsley, Jacques Imbrailo, Phillip Ens.

London Philharmonic Orchestra

1 I Am An Old Man Who Has Experienced Much
2 Pull, My Bantams
3 Boat Ahoy!
4 First Man Forward
5 Bill Budd, King of the Birds!

Disc: 2
1 I Heard, Your Honour!
2 Come Along, Kid!
3 Christ! the Poor Chap, the Poor Little Runt!
4 What's That? What's Those Whistles?
5 Starry Vere We Call Him
6 Boy!
7 Gentlemen, the King!
8 Ay, at Spithead the Men May Have Had Their Grievances
9 We Are, Sir. Claggart Is An Able One
10 Interlude
11 Blow Her Away
12 We're Off to Samoa
13 Hi! You... A... A... !... He's a Stammer
14 Over the Water
15 Come Here. Remember Your Promise
16 Billy!... Hist! Billy Budd!
17 Dansker, Old Friend, Glad to See You!

Disc: 3
1 I Don't Like the Look of the Mist, Mr. Redburn
2 Well What Is It, Master-At-Arms?
3 Deck Ahoy!
4 Volunteers! Call for Boarding Volunteers!
5 There You Are Again, Master-At-Arms
6 O, This Cursèd Mist!
7 Claggart, John Claggart, Beware!
8 Master-At-Arms and Foretopman
9 God'o Mercy!
10 Gentlemen, William Budd Here Has Killed the Master-At-Arms
11 William Budd, You Are Accused By Captain Vere
12 Poor Fellow, Who Could Save Him?
13 I Accept Their Verdict
14 Look!
15 Here! Baby!
16 And Farewell to Ye, Old 'Rights O' Man!'
17 Interlude
18 According to the Articles of War
19 Down All Hands!
20 We Committed His Body to the Deep