Benjamin Britten: Rape of Lucretia Op 37 (ENO, 1987) (NTSC) (Arthaus DVD)

Benjamin BRITTEN
THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA
Studio recording of the ENO production, 1987
Chamber Opera in Two Acts; Sung in English
Jean Rigby, Richard Van Allan, Russell Smythe, Alan Opie, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Kathryn Harries

English National Opera Orchestra, Lionel Friend

Stage Direction by Graham Vick

Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Picture Format: 4:3
Menu Languages: D, F, GB, SP
Subtitle Languages: GB, D, F, SP
Region Code: 0 worldwide
Running Time: 108 mins
DVD 9 / NTSC

Only available in Europe and South Africa

Cat no.: 102 021

This specially-staged studio recording of the English National Opera's highly-acclaimed production of Benjamin Britten's work features outstanding performances by Jean Rigby as Lucretia and Richard Van Allan as Collatinus, with Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Kathryn Harries sing the Male and Female Chorus.
With its bare scrubbed boards, its sliding screens - against which the characters sometimes appear in silhouette - and its high-railed gantry from which the Chorus observe, both Graham Vick's staging and Russell Craig's severe designs have a cool, elegant simplicity.
This ascetic production tellingly matches the austere restraint of Britten's first chamber opera, scored with sparse texture for a mere twelve instruments, a limitation over which Britten triumphed to produce music of deeply moving intensity.
This innovative production is a fine example of the exciting and imaginative work that is characteristic of the English National Opera.
"… immensely distinguished, musically, dramatically, visually, and almost unbearably moving." -- London Standard