Sarah Connolly's 'outstanding' (The Guardian) portrayal of the wronged Roman noblewoman, written originally for Kathleen Ferrier, lies at the heart of David McVicar's powerfully stark production for English National Opera as 'an everyday sort of woman who could be living at any time or place.'

Her nemesis is the arrogant Tarquinius of Christopher Maltman, 'who made the air tingle with danger' (Financial Times).

Filmed by the BBC at Snape Maltings during the production’s premiere run at the 2001 Aldeburgh Festival.

Cast:
- Lucretia: Sarah Connolly
- Tarquinius: Christopher Maltman
- Bianca: Catherine Wyn-Rogers
- Lucia: Mary Nelson
- Junius: Leigh Melrose
- Collatinus: Clive Bayley
- Female Chorus: Orla Boylan
- Male Chorus: John Mark Ainsley

Director David McVicar

"...the cast is so superb and Paul Daniel's conducting so sure-footed. Every element in Britten's score needs to glow with beauty. The 13 ENO instrumentalists deliver gloriously." - London Evening Standard

"The opera is a feast of musical moments. The simplicity and directness of McVicar's staging ensures that every detail in text and vocal lines gets attention..." - The Evening Standard

Running time: 120 minutes
Subtitles EN/FR/DE/JP/KO
Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS