An opera in two acts by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, from the story by Herman Melville.

Scene: On board H.M.S. Indomitable during the French wars of 1797.

The Ambrosian Opera Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra, Leader, John Georgiadis
Conductor, Charles Mackerras
(Peter Glossop, Michael Langdon, David Kelly, Kenneth Macdonald, Dennis Wicks, Robert Bowman, Delme Bryn-Jones, Eric Garrett, Keith Raggett, and John Constable appear by permission of the General Administrator, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Charles Mackerras by arrangement with the Hamburg State Opera; David Bowman by arrangement with Sadler's Wells Opera Co.)
(First shown on BBC-2)

"...the finest achievement in television opera yet mounted in this country." (The Sun)

Just one press comment on a production which became a television landmark. A grim story by Herman Melville (of Moby Dick fame) tells of duty, discipline, and tragedy aboard a British 'wooden wall'; Benjamin Britten has turned it into one of the most moving operas composed this century.
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There will be a short interval at 10.30*