Britten
Sir Colin Davis takes a fundamentally darker, tougher view of Peter Grimes than the composer himself. Jon Vickers’ heroic interpretation sheds keen new illumination what arguably remains the greatest of Britten’s operas, even if it cannot be said to supplant the composer’s own version. Heather Harper as Ellen Orford is very moving, and there are fine contributions from Jonathan Summers as Captain Balstrode and Thomas Allen as Ned Keene. The recording is full and vivid, with fine balancing. The Penguin Guide