Description
Good and evil. Black and white. Life and death.
Stark choices lie at the heart of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd. On one side is the goodness of Foretopman Billy, press-ganged into service on the Indomitable.On the other is the evil of Claggart, Master at Arms, whose sadistic pursuit of Billy is devoid of reason or justice. At the centre lies ‘Starry’ Captain Vere, a well-respected and well-meaning servant of the British Navy. It is he who adjudicates between right and wrong. If only it were that straightforward.
Benjamin Britten’s adaptation of Herman Melville’s novella portrays the nuances and brutal realities of Captain Vere’s moral maze with piercing clarity. Using a huge orchestral palette and an all-male cast, he creates a score which is so simple, so evocative and yet, when the time comes, so overwhelming.
Neil Armfield’s acclaimed production returns under the expert baton of Richard Hickox and with a dream cast. Teddy Tahu Rhodes takes the title role for the first time, with John Wegner as black-hearted Claggart and after his unforgettable performances in Death in Venice we are thrilled to welcome back that outstanding interpreter of Britten’s music, Philip Langridge as Captain Vere.
Sung in English with surtitles: Surtitles are a translation of the text of the opera projected on a screen above the stage. Note that Surtitles cannot be viewed from all seats. If you require a surtitle view please check your allocation against the information on the seat map prior to accepting your booking.
Running time: 3 hours including one 30 minute interval.
Warning: Opera Australia advises that this production contains nudity