Kunde leads Wiener Staatsoper’s shattering Billy Budd

Gregory Kunde (Captain Vere)

Huw Montague Rendall (Billy Budd)

Brindley Sherratt (John Claggart), Hiroshi Amako (Novice)

Huw Montague Rendall (Billy Budd) and chorus

By Ako Imamura, 27 October 2024

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“a masterclass in storytelling via singing and acting”

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 26 October 2024

Britten, Billy Budd

Vienna State Opera

Mark Wigglesworth, Conductor

Willy Decker, Director

Wolfgang Gussmann, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Gregory Kunde, Captain Vere

Huw Montague Rendall, Billy Budd

Brindley Sherratt, John Claggart

Devin Eatmon, Maintop

Hiroshi Amako, Novice

Andrea Giovannini, Red Whiskers

Lukas Schmidt, Squeak

Evgeny Solodovnikov, Bosun

Andrei Maksimov, Donald

Attila Mókus, Lieutenant Ratcliffe

Alexander Ilvakhin, Novice's Friend

Dan Paul Dumitrescu, Dansker

Jusung Gabriel Park, First Mate

Marcus Pelz, Second Mate

Wolfgang Bankl, Mr Flint

Adrian Eröd, Mr Redburn

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Gregory Kunde leads Wiener Staatsoper’s shattering revival of Billy Budd