Prologue: I am an old man who has experienced much -- Pull, my bantams! -- Who did that? -- Send for John Claggart -- Billy Budd, king of the birds! -- I heard, your honour! Yes, I heard -- Come along, kid! -- Christ, the poor chap, the poor little runt! -- Starry Vere we call him. Starry Vere! -- Boy! My compliments to Mr. Redburn and Mr. Flint -- Don't like the French! -- Mutiny -- Interlude: Blow her away -- Here lads! Here! -- Come out of that! -- O beauty, o handsomeness, goodness! -- Come here. Remember your promise -- Billy! -- Hist! Billy Budd! -- Dansker old friend, glad to see you! -- I don't like the look of the mist, Mr. Redburn -- Deck ahoy! Enemy sail on starboard bow! -- All guns ready, sir! We wait to fire -- There you are again, Master-at-arms -- Oh, this cursed mist! -- Claggart, John Claggart, beware! -- Master-at-arms and foretopman, I speak to you both -- God o' mercy! -- Interlude: William Budd, you are accused by Captain Vere -- Poor fellow, who could save him? -- I accept their verdict (Interlude) -- Look! Through the port comes the moon-shine astray! -- And farewell to ye, old Rights o' Man! -- Interlude -- According to the Articles of War, it is provided as follows -- We committed his body to the deep.
Summary
Herman Melville's gripping story of good and evil, set on an 18th-century British warship, inspired one of Britten's most brilliant operas. Richard Stillwell is Billy, the young sailor with a stammer and a pure heart whose goodness arouses the hatred of Claggart (James Morris). When Claggart falsely accuses Billy of attempting to incite mutiny, Billy strikes and accidentally kills him. Captain Vere (sung by Peter Pears, Britten's partner and creator of the role, in his last Met performance) has no choice but to have Billy hanged for murder, even though Claggart's changes are false. Peter Glossop is Mr. Redburn and Raymond Leppard conducts.
