Britten: The Historic BBC Films [6 Discs]

"This box set from the Decca label brings into a single collection six individual films of Benjamin Britten's stage productions, which originally aired on English television in the 1960s and early 1970s. Included are: a November 2, 1969 production of +Peter Grimes, starring Peter Pears and Heather Harper; a December 11, 1966 production of +Billy Budd, starring Peter Glassop and Peter Pears; a May 16, 1971 production of +Owen Wingrave, starring Benjamin Luxon and Nigel Douglas; an October 31, 1963 production of +The Beggar's Opera, starring David Kelly and Roger Jerome; and a Britten-conducted May 1970 production of Mozart's +Idomeneo, starring Peter Pears and Heather Harper. The package also includes a two-part show that includes arrangements and performances of various Britten folk songs, performed by Britten and Pears; and Britten's November 15, 1970 production of Schubert's +Winterreise."