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Billy Budd

160

English

Synopsis

On a British warship during the Napoleonic wars, the handsome and innocent young sailor Billy Budd is adored by his crewmates. The jealous master-at-arms, Claggart, falsely accuses him of mutiny. Billy, unable to speak due to a stammer, strikes Claggart dead and is sentenced to hang. The opera explores homoerotic desire and innocence destroyed.

Composer

Benjamin Britten

Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright

E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier

Year of composition/publication / premiere

1951

Genre

Opera

LGBTQAI+ category

Gay

Level of centrality

Main character

Characters

Billy Budd, John Claggart

Voice type

Baritone, Bass, Contra-tenor

Pronouns

he/him

Publisher / Rights holder

Boosey & Hawkes

Where to buy / access the work

Performance rights

For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.