“Lyric Opera gave the American stage premiere of the revised version of “Billy Budd” in 1970, with Theodor Uppman-who had created the title role in both the world premiere and first U.S. performance-as Billy. Uppman was in St. Louis to give a master class and to coach Steven Combs in the title role. Both did their jobs well. Combs was, physically and vocally, an ideal Billy Budd.


But it was Peter Kazaras’ finely observed Vere, whose stoic exterior belied the raging conflicts within, who gave this “Billy Budd” its core of emotional truth. Jeffrey Wells’ black-voiced Claggart was a chilling study in implacable evil. Among the large, all-male cast, Arthur Woodley (Dansker) and Perry Ward (Redburn) were standouts. One remarkable thing about this production was how well characterized each sailor was, and what a strong-voiced chorus they made as a whole.

Robert Spano was the able-bodied conductor, catching the gathering surge of Britten’s score and drawing solid contributions from a smallish (perhaps 50 players) version of the St. Louis Symphony despite the boxy acoustics of the Loretto-Hilton pit. This “Budd” had the further distinction of being Graham’s first-ever staging of the opera, as well as being the U.S. professional premiere of the original version, with its big first-act choral finale.

In more than a decade of attending Opera Theatre, I can’t recall a production that impressed me more.”