Benjamin Britten - BRITTEN: Let's Make an Opera (Feature Film, 1996) (NTSC) (Arthaus DVD)  

Benjamin Britten
LET’S MAKE AN OPERA
An Opera Feature Film by Petr Weigl, 1996

Doris / Miss Baggott:
Jirina Jeraskova / Sung by Felicity Palmer
Barbara / Gouvernante:
Dagmar Veskrnova / Sung by Kate Flowers
Thomas / Black Bob:
Lukas Vacucik / Sung by Stephen Richardson
Max / Clem / Alfred:
Michael Dlouhy / Sung by John Graham Hall
Anni / Juliet Brook:
Dana Moravkova / Sung by Lisa Milne
Martin / Gay Brook:
Michal Bürger / Sung by Liam Shena
Monika / Sophia Brook:
Sabina Feldmanova / Sung by Julia Campbell
Peter / John Crome:
Petros Alexandridis / Sung by Kevin Bloomer
Rolf / Hughie Crome:
Filip Fronek / Sung by Nigel Wall
Maria / Tina Crome:
Silvie Koblizkova / Sung by Francesca Massey
Hans / Sam:
Johan Kolinsky / Sung by Edward Yeo
The Coull Quartet:
Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway (violin),
David Curtis (viola), John Todd (cello)
Nettle & Markham, Piano duo
Huw Ceredig, Percussion
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
and Symphony Youth Chorus
Simon Halsey, conductor
Petr Weigl, director

Picture format: NTSC 4:3
Sound format: PCM Stereo
Region code: 0
Subtitle Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Menu Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Running time: 100 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)
Throughout his compositional work, Benjamin Britten did much to support young people with their musical education – one has only to think for example of works such as The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

His ‘Entertainment for Young People’ written in 1949 and entitled Let’s Make an Opera, Op. 45, is another example of this didactic approach to composition, although the work is also a morality tale that condemns the abuse of children, particularly those suffering social deprivation – represented in this instance by Sam, an apprentice chimneysweep. Britten himself developed a great personal attachment to the work. In his own words, he associated its composition with "an indescribable feeling of happiness."

Let’s Make an Opera is divided into three parts. Act Three, which is an independent entity and suitable for performance on its own, narrates the actual tale of The Little Sweep. In this film, the director Petr Weigl has reworked and enriched the two-part prologue to the story through the introduction of additional characters.