Britten: Albert Herring (2 CD)

Benjamin Britten : Albert Herring

CD 1
Act I
Scene 1
1 (The morning room at Lady Billows' house in Loxford) 2:01
2 Florence: 'Doctor Jessop's midwife . . .' 2:33
3 Miss Wordsworth: 'I hope we're not too early' 2:42
4 Lady Billows: 'Stuffy! Tobacco stink!' 2:45
5 Lady Billows: 'Now then! Notebook, Florence!' 2:49
6 Vicar: 'The first suggestion on my list' 4:46
7 Lady Billows: 'Is this all you can bring?' 3:12
8 Superintendent: 'Begging your pardon' 4:24
9 Vicar: 'Virtue, says Holy Writ' 2:03
10 Lady Billows: 'Right! We'll have him!' 3:03
11 Interlude 3:08

Scene 2
12 Emmie, Cis and Harry: 'Bounce me high' 2:27
13 Sid: 'Shop! Hi! Albert!' 1:57
14 Sid: 'Did you ever have a pint at the local?' 1:41
15 Albert: 'Sid I'm sorry but . . .' 3:36
16 Sid and Nancy: 'We'll walk to the spinney' 2:00
17 Albert: 'He's much too busy' 2:08
18 Emmie: 'Mum wants two penn'oth of potherbs' 1:36
19 Florence: 'Good morning, young man!' 1:41
20 Lady Billows: 'We bring great news to you' 2:49
21 Mum: 'Well, think of that, my lad' 2:49

Act II
Scene 1
22 (Inside a marquee . . .) 2:21
23 Florence: 'For three precious weeks' 0:54
24 Sid: 'That's a fine sight for sore eyes!' 2:41
25 Miss Wordsworth: 'Quickly, quickly' 3:26
26 Nancy: 'I don't think you ought!' 1:03
27 (Bells offstage) Nancy: 'Quick, here they are!' 2:39
28 Miss Wordsworth: 'Husssh! . . . Harold Wood!' 1:34
29 Lady Billows: 'Come, let's sit down' 1:24


CD 2

Act II
Scene 1 (continued)
1 Lady Billows: 'I'm full of happiness' 3:49
2 Mayor: 'As representing our local Council' 2:03
3 Miss Wordsworth: 'My heart leaps up with joy to see' 2:11
4 Superintendent: 'Erhumph . . .' 1:16
5 Mum: 'Go on, Albert!' 2:07
6 Vicar: 'Albert the Good!' 2:34
7 Sid: 'Bring the plates! Quickly now!' 7:34

Scene 2
8 Albert: 'Albert the Good!' 4:51
9 Albert: 'Why did she stare . . .?' 2:50
10 Nancy: 'You oughtn't to whistle' 1:47
11 Sid: 'Come along, darling' 2:16
12 Albert: 'Heaven helps those who help themselves' 5:24
13 Mum: 'Albert! Albert? Fast asleep, poor kid!' 3:06

Act III
14 (The following afternoon . . .) 2:13
15 Emmie: 'Is she asleep?' 3:16
16 Sid: 'What the hell d'you think I am?' 1:49
17 Sid: 'How's the manhunt?' 1:15
18 Mum: 'Have you found him?' 3:01
19 Mum: 'All that I did!' 2:42
20 Lady Billows: 'Fools!' 2:32
21 All: 'In the midst of life is death' 5:24
22 All: 'Albert . . .?' 2:57
23 Albert: 'I can't remember anything' 5:44
24 Sid: 'Hi! That's my girl' 2:02
74:57

James Gilchrist tenor - Albert Herring
Pamela Helen Stephen mezzo-soprano - Nancy
Roderick Williams baritone - Sid
Susan Bullock soprano - Lady Billows
Sally Burgess mezzo-soprano - Florence Pike
Alan Opie baritone - Mr Gedge
Stephen Richardson bass - Superintendent Budd
Robert Tear tenor - Mr Upfold
Rebecca Evans soprano - Miss Wordsworth
Anne Collins mezzo-soprano - Mrs Herring
Yvette Bonner - Emmie
Rebecca Bottone - Cis
Gregory Monk - Harry
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox

Recorded in: Blackheath Halls, London
11-14 October 2001