Introduction to Noye's Fludde by Benjamin Britten

[@JanetteHeffernan]

I can hardly believe I was in this in 1958 along with Michael Crawford. It was such fun. We seemed to be there in Aldeburgh for weeks and it was a bit like an Enid Blyton and Swallows and Amazons all rolled into one. Lots of ham sandwiches and Cherryaid that was spilt all over the rainbow. Mr Britten drove it back miles to Aldeburgh on his Alvis and had the local garage spray it and then drove it back! But I hated my costume and the M&S slippers! It was magic and no school. Those were the days.

[@sheilaoaten8208]

I was part of a school choir in Coventry in about 1959 or 60, I wore one of the animal heads.. but can't remember which one. I remember lining up to enter the ark and the storm scene. There was a canvas sheet on a large roller that made a great thundereing noise

[@valerydean5767]

Wonderful to find this! I'm also a fan of the late James Blades and to hear and see him working with children was an inspiration. I've never forgotten his magnetism when in 1959 he and his wife visited Rannoch School in Scotland, bringing so many fascinating pieces of kit, and showing little me how to work a tambourine with a damp thumb!

[@VirginiaBriant]

My brother, Marcus Norman, played Ham alongside Michael Crawford. I remember attending the first performance in 1957 when I was 6 years old and also visiting my brother Marcus whilst he was staying up at The Red House that summer.

[@MsPeperonata]

My parents still have the LP from 1958 - great to see this documentary about it. We did this at my school in the 1970s and it was a great success - I played one of the giant recorders

[@JanetteHeffernan]

It is lovely to see the drawing room at the Red House once more although it was a little different in 1958. All the Wives and Sons were trouped into this room on the first day of rehearsal, why I have no idea but it was rather a long wait. In fact a very long wait. Michael Crawford, yes THE Michael Crawford was not good at long waits and as there was a very large drinks tray with lots of booze he started to make rather splendid cocktails. I had a small sherry! NO rehearsing was done that day.

[@brianweller9454]

Hi there Janet, Brian Weller here. I was Ham in Noyes Fludde, if you remember. Such wonderful times with Ben Britten and all us sons and daughters of Noye. I shared a room with the inimitable Michael C. at that large Aldeburgh country house we all lived in, with its large swimming pool in the grounds. I remember challenging Michael v.early one morning to run down and swim a length naked. He did with a great yell, waking people up and the following evening, took his revenge, by making an 'apple pie' bed for me. Needless to say, my feet went straight through the top sheets! Many more memories of course. One of my fondest was when Ben asked me to sing some English folk songs with him at the piano and Yehudi Menuhin playing his Strad. at one of the festival concerts in the town. I do hope that life is treating you well Janet. Much love...Brian

[@azormage]

Marvelous video.

[@edwardcaswell62]

fantastic!

[@DaveBassTrekker]

In the early 70s I sang in a boys choir which performed this. We had to make our own animal heads. Fun times!

[@LittleBearMysticNun]

awww baby Michael Crawford was in this!

[@mohdnasir5140]

Page 332 It is called Noye's Fludde ("Noah's Flood," in modern English) and is taken from medieval English mystery play based on the Biblical story of Noah, his ark, and the Great Flood.

[@mohdnasir5140]

Page 333 A rehearsal of a church production of Britten's opera Noye's Fludde. Noah (upper left) and a number of the animals are already aboard the ark. His sons (center) try to persuade their mother, Mrs. Noah (lower right), to join them.

[@fishtoes]

The animal headdresses remind me of something from a Wes Anderson film.

[@MattWeisherComposer]

fishtoes Probably the scenes of Moonrise Kingdom in which they're performing this opera...?

[@1965Chava]

because that scene is from benjamin britten's Fludde

[@MS-19]

Wes Anderson was in a production of Noye's Fludde when he was a child, and it influenced the production of Moonrise Kingdom. He said that he essentially set the film to Britten's music.