This is devastating. Seen this exquisite performance on many occasions and am devastated every time. Bless this great singer, and many congratulations to him on his fine career 🎶
"Devastating" is right. I can't think of any other operatic - or other - musical number that grabs me like this does: Right by the guts. Yes, there are other operatic About-To-Die numbers, but they're somehow glamorised and glossy....... Whereas this is raw pathos, in the proper sense of the word. Superb composition, superbly performed!
@@mehitabel1290 Well said. Billy is so honest and humble, and this aria is honest, humble and raw. He shows no anger towards his fate or the those who are taking his life. Real tragedy.
He still occasionally sings "Billy in the Darbies" in during recitals. And the magic is still there. I heard him sing it a few years ago in Munich (with M. Martineau on the piano) and at the end there was a stunned silence...
I saw this production. Although it was all wonderful, this scene left me reeling, for days.. Had never been so moved by anything on stage before, and probably never will again. Thirty years later, it still grabs me by the spine. Astonished, and grateful, to find it posted. Thanks.
This song always strikes a chord with me when I listen to it. And since Billy is supposed to be the 'Handsome Sailor' in the story, Allen can be as pretty as he wants here...
@arpeggio1358 I think this performance is actually from the DVD you were talking about. As far as I know, this was the only time Allen's Billy Budd was filmed for video and which made it to DVD. I agree...he's an amazingly talented baritone.
Even Sir Thomas knew he was getting along in years to play this role onstage at the time. I bet he's still quite keen to sing the role though; he jokingly said once in an interview that he could probably do Billy Budd again...with a lot of makeup, that is! =)
This is devastating. Seen this exquisite performance on many occasions and am devastated every time.
Bless this great singer, and many congratulations to him on his fine career 🎶
"Devastating" is right. I can't think of any other operatic - or other - musical number that grabs me like this does: Right by the guts. Yes, there are other operatic About-To-Die numbers, but they're somehow glamorised and glossy....... Whereas this is raw pathos, in the proper sense of the word. Superb composition, superbly performed!
@@mehitabel1290 Well said. Billy is so honest and humble, and this aria is honest, humble and raw. He shows no anger towards his fate or the those who are taking his life. Real tragedy.
The way he sings the phrase, "It is dead that I'll be, come to think". . . is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard
I was on stage playing his guard (not a difficult role LOL) in the WNO's production in the early70s. Needless to say, Tom smashed it every night.
He still occasionally sings "Billy in the Darbies" in during recitals. And the magic is still there. I heard him sing it a few years ago in Munich (with M. Martineau on the piano) and at the end there was a stunned silence...
Thomas Allen est LE Billy Budd de sa génération !
I saw this production. Although it was all wonderful, this scene left me reeling, for days.. Had never been so moved by anything on stage before, and probably never will again. Thirty years later, it still grabs me by the spine. Astonished, and grateful, to find it posted. Thanks.
What an incredible memory to keep. Fantastic.
This song always strikes a chord with me when I listen to it.
And since Billy is supposed to be the 'Handsome Sailor' in the story, Allen can be as pretty as he wants here...
He sings so beautifully. I think that a Billy who comes from the direction of Mozart generally works well.
This is a really beautiful piece of music! And Allen is rather pretty here :D
@arpeggio1358 I think this performance is actually from the DVD you were talking about. As far as I know, this was the only time Allen's Billy Budd was filmed for video and which made it to DVD.
I agree...he's an amazingly talented baritone.
He also sang it on his first 'Great Operatic Arias' disc as well. That was the first time I'd ever heard him sing the piece...a lovely song.
Even Sir Thomas knew he was getting along in years to play this role onstage at the time. I bet he's still quite keen to sing the role though; he jokingly said once in an interview that he could probably do Billy Budd again...with a lot of makeup, that is! =)
Oh, I haven't seen this for a while. It's so beautiful... Thanks for uploading!
Thank you so much for posting this!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
no one can match him!
No one!
thank you to share it!
@drtmuir Henze. Vir.