Performer: Deborah Warner

Christine Rice gives an astonishingly performance in an evening of four powerful chamber pieces.

After nearly two decades away from the Covent Garden stage, it was time Britten's Billy Budd came home, in a new production from Madrid by Deborah Warner. 

Superbement incarnée par Vannina Santoni, c’est une grande Violetta qui est née ce 28 novembre 2018 au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Chung's mastery of orchestral colour and texture came into its own, the brooding introduction to Act 2 making for a harrowingly apocalyptic representation of tyranny.

The evening was dominated by Anna Netrebko, who reprised the role of Tatiana with fresh insights and vocal charisma.  Robin Ticciati led the Met Orchestra to probe a new depth of the score.

Billy Budd triumphs in Madrid thanks to an inspired orchestra, a solid cast and a dream team of stage magicians.