Britten's two-act opera to a libretto by EM Forster and Eric Crozier adapted from a story by Herman Melville . The opera was commissioned for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and first performed with Theodor Uppman in the title role, Peter Pears as Vere, and Frederick Dalberg as Claggart. This production is a revival of the first Met performance in 1978. Billy Budd is a newly press-ganged sailor aboard the Indomitable, a man-of-war during the French Revolutionary Wars of 1797. He quickly annoys master-at-arms
John Claggart , who resolves to deal with the troublemaker and arranges to have Budd accused of mutiny.
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York, conductor Steuart Bedford
Act
8.00 The Met Opera Quiz
Thor Eckert Jr invites opera experts Carolyn Abbate , Martin Bernheimer and Frank Rizzo to tackle questions sent in by listeners.
8.20 Act 2
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