Favorite Britten Opera?

[Mirror Image]

Perhaps a hard decision for some and easy for others. I have to simply bow out of the poll for the simple fact that I haven't heard any of Britten's operas in their entirety (yet). This poll will be up for 100 days. Maybe this will give me some time to explore these works.

Anyway, have fun!

[The new erato]

Why isn't Albert Herring there?

Is this a red herring, or don't you like kippers?

[springrite]

Why isn't Albert Herring there?

Was just about to say that. I truly enjoy that opera!

[Mirror Image]

Why isn't Albert Herring there?

Is this a red herring, or don't you like kippers?

Corrected. Forgot about that one. I reset the votes back to '0' for the inclusion of this opera.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Hmm...stuck on three votes. I'm guessing that's me, Monkey Greg, and MI.

[Mirror Image]

Hmm...stuck on three votes. I'm guessing that's me, Monkey Greg, and MI.

Yeah, I simply can't vote as I haven't any experience with Britten's operas (yet), but I'm continually being told The Turn of the Screw, Peter Grimes, and Death in Venice are his finest moments in opera.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Yeah, I simply can't vote as I haven't any experience with Britten's operas (yet), but I'm continually being told The Turn of the Screw, Peter Grimes, and Death in Venice are his finest moments in opera.

Oh, I thought one of the votes was yours, MI. Yeah, Grimes is a great one - my fave. I also like Billy Budd. I haven't heard Death in Venice yet. The Hickox samples of Venice sound wonderful. It's high on my wish list.

[springrite]

Hmm...stuck on three votes. I'm guessing that's me, Monkey Greg, and MI.

<<<<<<<<<<<This guy voted

[North Star]

I've only heard three and a half of them: Grimes, Turn of the Screw, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Goodall's Rape of Lucretia bits, so won't be voting - not yet anyway.

[TheGSMoeller]

Death in Venice.

[Mirror Image]

Oh, I thought one of the votes was yours, MI. Yeah, Grimes is a great one - my fave. I also like Billy Budd. I haven't heard Death in Venice yet. The Hickox samples of Venice sound wonderful. It's high on my wish list.

Death in Venice is certainly high on my priority list. I bought that Hickox recording a few nights ago. Look forward to diving into it, but I need to hear Bedford's performance as well.

[Mirror Image]

Death in Venice.

So.....predictable.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Curlew River is another fave in the "overlooked" category, probably owing to its odd, experimental nature. Opera? Probably. Stage work? Certainly. Evocative? Definitely.




[asin]B00000INXR[/asin]

[kishnevi]

Let me think:  I've seen Paul Bunyan  and Albert Herring on TV (PBS, naturally);  have Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, and Rape of Lucretia and have listened to them more than once;  Gloriana and Albert Herring in their CD versions sit in the listening pile.....RoL is my least favorite of the lot;  I do (this might be slightly heretical) think BB is superior to PG.  AH is another good one that may require a DVD version to properly appreciate.  PB has at least one moment that should be on every Britten lover's list, a quartet of four supporting roles which I think is usually called the "Quartet of the Dispossessed" and can be found in the second act.  Strange that Britten thought he could conquer Broadway with that work!

[mc ukrneal]

Turn of the Screw for me. I find the psychological elements so well interwoven with the music. When I hear the opening chords, I can't help but get shivers. It was an easy choice for me, and yet I really enjoy several of his operas tremendously.

[Mirror Image]

Curlew River is another fave in the "overlooked" category, probably owing to its odd, experimental nature. Opera? Probably. Stage work? Certainly. Evocative? Definitely.

[asin]B00000INXR[/asin]

A work I plan on exploring once the big Britten box arrives (I see a Dec. 11th delivery date via Amazon.de). I want to hear the other Church Parables as well.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I do (this might be slightly heretical) think BB is superior to PG.

Not too far-fetched as far as I can tell. Both works are top-notch.