THE BRITTEN-PEARS COLLECTION

 

BENJAMIN BRITTEN / PETER PEARS

 

Peter Grimes

 

Peter Pears......Grimes

Heather Harper......Ellen Orford

Bryan Drake......Balstrode

Elizabeth Bainbridge......Auntie

Owen Brannigan......Swallow

Robert Tear......Rev Adams

 

London Symphony Orchestra / Benjamin Britten

 

Part of the Britten-Pears DVD Collection. This DVD collection features four historically and musically significant films from the BBC archives of works and performances by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, one of the greatest English tenors and Britten’s long-term partner and artistic inspiration. None of the films have been available before on any home video format.

 

First-ever audio-visual recording of Peter Grimes, Britten’s first great operatic success. The only film recording of Peter Grimes featuring Peter Pears in the title role, and conducted by the composer.

 

The production was mounted by the celebrated Decca producer, John Culshaw, following his move to the BBC. The 1969 studio colour film was staged by the great British soprano, Joan Cross. Cross was closely associated with the operas of Britten and had created the role of Ellen Orford at the premiere of Peter Grimes in 1945.

 

Fabulous cast of British opera greats from the period, including Heather Harper as Ellen Orford, Elizabeth Bainbridge and Robert Tear.

 

Extras: Britten - Pears trailer

Disc Format: NTSC DVD 9

Video Aspect Ratio: 4:3

Region Coding: 1-6 (0)

Colour Mode: Colour

Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish

 

Decca DVD 0743261