The operas of Benjamin Britten : the complete librettos illustrated with designs of the first productions

Provides a reference work and record of the original stage realizations of Britten's operas including all sixteen librettos. Contents Editor’s note Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: Operatic music and Britten Working with Britten Designing for Britten Writing for Britten The first opera: Paul Bunyan Staging first productions 1 Staging first productions 2 Staging first productions 3 The last opera: Death in Venice Librettos Paul Bunyan Peter Grimes (derived from the poem of George Crabbe) The Rape of Lucretia (after André Obey's play ‘Le Viol de Lucrèce’) Albert Herring (freely adapted from a short story by Guy de Maupassant) The Little Sweep Billy Budd (adapted from the story by Herman Melville) Gloriana The Turn of the Screw (adapted from the story by Henry James) Noye’s Fludde A Midsummer Night's Dream (adapted from William Shakespeare) Curlew River The Burning Fiery Furnace The Prodigal Son The Golden Vanity Owen Wingrave (based on a short story by Henry James) Death in Venice (based on the short story by Thomas Mann) Select Bibliography Index to main text