Albert Herring, a comendy set around the May Day celebrations of the fictional Suffolk village of Loxford, is Britten’s second chamber opera and the first production of the newly formed English Opera Group, and was first given at Glyndebourne, on 20th June, 1947. It is Britten’s genius to create, with small chamber forces, a comic opera sparkling with character, wit, and, at times, great poignancy, that make this opera one of the greatest in the English language. Each individual in the cast has a distinct musical personality, reflecting his or her dramatic persona, ensuring the individuality and dramatic and musical coherence which make Britten’s compositions so uniquely identifiable. This recording was originally released on Collins Classics, in 1997.