"The strength of the production is its universality ... The acting works so well in close-up that it is possible to follow this performance almost like a film ... Imbrailo's warm, unforced singing is a major asset ... Bolton is the skilful conductor, keeping the drama taut ... The Madrid chorus does itself proud ... The final scene of this Billy Budd, grandly staged, sturdily sung, is as powerful as it gets"

"To englændere, dirigenten Ivor Bolton og iscenesætteren Deborah Warner, står for denne stærke og medrivende udgave af Benjamin Brittens 'Billy Budd' ... I Deborah Warners fine iscenesættelse komer man rundt om alle aspekter i dramaet ... Det er en visuelt stærk forestilling med mange detaljer fra sejlskibenes verden ... Godt filmatiseret med mange nærbilleder af korsangere og biroller, hvilket giver et spændende dybdeperspektiv til forestillingen. Særligt fascinerende er portrættet af stykkets skurk Claggart ... Brindley Sherratt spiller det meste af rollen usædvanligt afdæmpet ... Skræmmende er hans sluttelige determinerede forsøg på at udrydde det gode ... Ivor Bolton trimmer det spanske orkester og kor til en skarp og velklingende toppræstation. Meget anbefalelsesværdig"

"It is a fine production and a fine performance of a great opera ... The costumes are naval, 20th century ones for officers and earlier (i.e., utilitarian scruffy) for other ranks ... The cast is a strong one, the leads among the top choices for their roles in the world ... Direction, lighting and editing are a triumph, among the best I have seen for any filmed opera ... This is not an opera for the squeamish, since we are invited to enjoy the spectacle of an innocent person being destroyed ... But if you are feeling strong enough, this will grip you throughout its near three hour length. For those who care about the work, or just about what staged opera on film can achieve, this is less a recommendation than a requirement"