Opera - Albert Herring

BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976)

Albert Herring

147:27

An opera in three acts

Libretto by Eric Crozier, after a story by Guy de Maupassant

Act I

Scene 1

1

(The morning room at Lady Billows' house in Loxford)

2:01

2

Florence: 'Doctor Jessop's midwife . . .'

2:33

3

Miss Wordsworth: 'I hope we're not too early'

2:42

4

Lady Billows: 'Stuffy! Tobacco stink!'

2:45

5

Lady Billows: 'Now then! Notebook, Florence!'

2:49

6

Vicar: 'The first suggestion on my list'

4:46

7

Lady Billows: 'Is this all you can bring?'

3:12

8

Superintendent: 'Begging your pardon'

4:24

9

Vicar: 'Virtue, says Holy Writ'

2:03

10

Lady Billows: 'Right! We'll have him!'

3:03

11

Interlude

3:08

Scene 2

12

Emmie, Cis and Harry: 'Bounce me high'

2:27

13

Sid: 'Shop! Hi! Albert!'

1:57

14

Sid: 'Did you ever have a pint at the local?'

1:41

15

Albert: 'Sid I'm sorry but . . .'

3:36

16

Sid and Nancy: 'We'll walk to the spinney'

2:00

17

Albert: 'He's much too busy'

2:08

18

Emmie: 'Mum wants two penn'oth of potherbs'

1:36

19

Florence: 'Good morning, young man!'

1:41

20

Lady Billows: 'We bring great news to you'

2:49

21

Mum: 'Well, think of that, my lad'

2:49

Act II

Scene 1

22

(Inside a marquee . . .)

2:21

23

Florence: 'For three precious weeks'

0:54

24

Sid: 'That's a fine sight for sore eyes!'

2:41

25

Miss Wordsworth: 'Quickly, quickly'

3:26

26

Nancy: 'I don't think you ought!'

1:03

27

(Bells offstage) Nancy: 'Quick, here they are!'

2:39

28

Miss Wordsworth: 'Husssh! . . . Harold Wood!'

1:34

29

Lady Billows: 'Come, let's sit down'

1:24

Act II

Scene 1 (continued)

30

Lady Billows: 'I'm full of happiness'

3:49

31

Mayor: 'As representing our local Council'

2:03

32

Miss Wordsworth: 'My heart leaps up with joy to see'

2:11

33

Superintendent: 'Erhumph . . .'

1:16

34

Mum: 'Go on, Albert!'

2:07

35

Vicar: 'Albert the Good!'

2:34

36

Sid: 'Bring the plates! Quickly now!'

7:34

Scene 2

37

Albert: 'Albert the Good!'

4:51

38

Albert: 'Why did she stare . . .?'

2:50

39

Nancy: 'You oughtn't to whistle'

1:47

40

Sid: 'Come along, darling'

2:16

41

Albert: 'Heaven helps those who help themselves'

5:24

42

Mum: 'Albert! Albert? Fast asleep, poor kid!'

3:06

Act III

43

(The following afternoon . . .)

2:13

44

Emmie: 'Is she asleep?'

3:16

45

Sid: 'What the hell d'you think I am?'

1:49

46

Sid: 'How's the manhunt?'

1:15

47

Mum: 'Have you found him?'

3:01

48

Mum: 'All that I did!'

2:42

49

Lady Billows: 'Fools!'

2:32

50

All: 'In the midst of life is death'

5:24

51

All: 'Albert . . .?'

2:57

52

Albert: 'I can't remember anything'

5:44

53

Sid: 'Hi! That's my girl'

2:02

James Gilchrist tenor - Albert Herring

Pamela Helen Stephen mezzo-soprano - Nancy

Roderick Williams baritone - Sid

Susan Bullock soprano - Lady Billows

Sally Burgess mezzo-soprano - Florence Pike

Alan Opie baritone - Mr Gedge

Stephen Richardson bass - Superintendent Budd

Robert Tear tenor - Mr Upfold

Rebecca Evans soprano - Miss Wordsworth

Anne Collins mezzo-soprano - Mrs Herring

Yvette Bonner Emmie

Rebecca Bottone Cis

Gregory Monk Harry

Richard Hickox

11-14 October 2001