Audiobooks narrated by Peter Orr

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Bear you well in this new spring of time, Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.’ King Richard II rules England in a wasteful and short-sighted way, spending money unwisely and selecting his counselors foolishly. His manner ostracises him from his people and his country and it’s not long before both commoners and noblemen feel Richard has gone too far. When Richard seizes land that rightfully belongs to his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Bolingbroke retaliates by invading England while Richard is at war in Ireland. More popular with the commoners, Henry is eventually crowned King Henry IV. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Richard Pasco; William Devlin; Cyril Luckham; Timothy West; Roy Spencer; John Shrapnel; Peter Jeffrey; Sidney Bromley; George Rylands; Gary Watson; Peter Orr; David King; Gordon Gardner; Harvey Hall; Denis McCarthy; Frank Duncan; Dudley Jones; Barbara Leigh-Hunt; Beatrix Lehmann; Peter Woodthorpe; Clive Swift; Alaric Cotter; Norman Mitchell."

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, Peter Orr, Richard Pasco, Timothy West, William Devlin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Much Ado About Nothing

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.’ Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare’s most frequently performed comedy. Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice’s love defending her cousin’s honour, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: William Squire; Patrick Creean; Gary Watson; John Gielgud; Michael Hordern; Donald Layne-Smith; Peter Pears; Peter Orr; Cyril Luckham; Clive Swift; Peter Woodthorpe; Ian Holm; Josephine Stuart; Peggy Ashcroft; Gillian Webb; Janette Richer."

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, John Sir Gielgud, Michael Hordern, Peter Orr, William Squire (Narrator)

Audiobook

Love’s Labour’s Lost

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Love is familiar. Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but Love.’ Love's Labour's Lost is a comedy about young love, with an unexpected ending. After vowing to avoid women, the King and three of his friends have to host a princess and her three ladies. The four men fall in love and decide to court the women. In the end, the women must return to their kingdom for a year after which they will marry the king and his friends, providing they remain true to them. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Derek Godfrey; Gary Watson; Peter Orr; Ian Lang; Robert Eddison; George Rylands; Max Adrian; Toby Robertson; Tony Church; Peter Woodthorpe; Michael Bates; Freda Dowie; Janette Richer; Prunella Scales; Diana Rigg; Susan Maryott; Patsy Byrne."

William Shakespeare (Author), Derek Godfrey, Full Cast, Gary Watson, Peter Orr, Prunella Scales (Narrator)

Audiobook

Twelfth Night

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.’ A comedic romance of mistaken identity, Twelfth Night begins with a shipwreck, splitting up Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian. Alone in a strange land, Viola disguises herself as a male servant, Cesario, in order to work for the Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, but it is Cesario that Olivia falls for. A farcical tale of misplaced love, confusion, gender-swapping and aspiration, Twelfth Night remains one of Shakespeare’s best-loved and inventive comedies. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Derek Godfrey; Patrick Garland; Peter Orr; John Barton; Ian Lang; Tony Whitehead; Patrick Wymark; Robert Eddison; Tony Church; David Coombes; Peter Pears; Jill Balco; Dorothy Tutin; Prunella Scales."

William Shakespeare (Author), Derek Godfrey, Full Cast, Patrick Garland, Peter Orr, Prunella Scales (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Rape of Lucrece

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘But no perfection is so absolute That some inpurity doth not pollute.’ The Rape of Lucrece follows a popular story from one of Shakespeare's favourite ancient writers, Ovid. Lucrece is the angelic wife of Collatine, an illustrious Roman general. She is coveted and eventually attacked by Prince Tarquin, Collatine's best friend. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Readers: Tony Church; George Rylands; Peggy Ashcroft; Denis McCarthy; Peter Holmes; Peter Orrl Janette Richer."

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, George Rylands, Peggy Ashcroft, Peter Orr, Tony Church (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Merry Wives of Windsor

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Why, then the world ’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.’ Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Patrick Wymark; Peter Orr; Terrence Hardiman; Gordon Gardner; Frank Duncan; Anthony Arlidge; Dudley Jones; Roy Dotrice; David Buck; Anthony Handy; Tony Church; Philip Strick; Freda Dowie; Norman Mitchell; Raymond Clarke; Geraldine McEwan; Angela Baddeley; Susan Maryott; Beatrix Lehmann."

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, Patrick Wymark, Peter Orr, Roy Dotrice, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Comedy of Errors

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘We came into the world like brother and brother, And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.’ How do any of us really know who we are? A man arrives in a strange town only to find that everyone knows his name, but thinks he’s someone else. A woman wonders why her husband is not the man he was, but starts to rather like it. Confusion mounts as everyone uncouples from themselves. Will they ever find themselves again? And do they really want to? All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Denis McCarthy; Michael Hordern; George Rylands; George Rylands; Michael Bates; Michael Bates; Peter Orr; Clive Swift; Terrence Hardiman; Dudley Jones; Lally Bowers; Joan Hart; Janette Richer; Janette Richer; Prunella Scales."

William Shakespeare (Author), Denis Mccarthy, Full Cast, Michael Hordern, Peter Orr, Prunella Scales (Narrator)

Audiobook

Henry VIII

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Of all losses, time is the most irrecuperable for it can never be redeemed.’ Shakespeare's Henry VIII is a story of a ruthless race to power and the desire for an heir. King Henry VIII listens to Cardinal Wolsey too much and gives him power, which the Cardinal uses to convict a duke of treason. Henry meets Anne Boleyn, divorces his wife Katharine, and marries Anne. Anne gives birth to Princess Elizabeth who the Archbishop prophesies will become great. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; Robert Speaight; Richard Dare; Donald Layne-Smith; Denis McCarthy; Ian Lang; Peter Orr; Gary Watson; Terrence Hardiman; Michael Bates; Trevor Nunn; John Barton; Margaretta Scott; Prunella Scales; Vivienne Chatterton."

William Shakespeare (Author), Donald Layne-Smith, Full Cast, Peter Orr, Richard Dare, Robert Speaight (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Treasury of Victorian Poetry

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Christina Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning (Author), David King, Gwen Watford, Peter Orr, Sir John Gielgud (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Poetry of War

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. A collection of the greatest war poetry ever written, read by some of the 20th century’s most renowned actors. Tragedy, war, and humanity are played out in these timeless readings of poetry written about, or on, the battlefield. Performed by Sir John Gielgud; Peter Orr; Gwen Watford; and David King. This collection includes poems from: • Thomas Hardy • WB Yeats • Wilfred Owen • Siegfried Sassoon • Ted Hughes • Edward Shanks • Robert Nicholls • WN Hodgson • Patrick Mac Gill • Julian Grenfell • Edmund Blunden • Edgell Rickword • David Jones • Robert Graves • E A Mackintosh • Edward Thomas • Isaac Rosenberg • Rupert Brooke • Ivor Gurney • CH Sorley • John Masefield • Edward Lucie-Smith • Willougby Weaving • John McRae • IA Williams • David Gascoyne • Henry Reed • C Day Lewis • Stephen Spender • Dylan Thomas • Louis Max Niece • Alan Ross • Sidney Keyes • Ruthven Todd • Michael Roberts • John Betjeman • Alun Lewis • Roy Fuller • Charles Causley • Keith Douglas • Herbert Read • Patric Dickinson • Hugh MacDiarmid"

Dylan Thomas, John Betjeman, Siegfried Sassoon, Ted Hughes, Thomas Hardy, WB Yeats, Wilfred Owen (Author), David King, Gwen Watford, Peter Orr, Sir John Gielgud (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Treasury of Romantic Poetry

John Keats, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, William Wordsworth (Author), Margaretta Scott, Peggy Ashcroft, Peter Orr, Richard Burton, William Squire, full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Peter Orr