The opera centres on the love affair of Horatio Nelson, and Emma, Lady Hamilton. Completed in 1951, it was first performed in full in 1954. The British Embassy in Naples is the scene of a birthday party for Nelson, arranged to celebrate his victory at the Nile. He appears with ‘the sadness of the world upon his lips’ and while the other guests are dancing, Nelson, with Emma Hamilton, the Ambassador’s wife, beside him, hears a servant foretell his future unhappiness. This releases the passionate feelings of the couple for each other and the conflict in their lives.

A BBC studio recording, broadcast on 23 October 1983

Cast:
- Admiral Lord Nelson: David Johnston
- Lady Emma Hamilton: Eiddwen Harrhy
- Sir William Hamilton: Brian Rayner Cook
- Mrs Cadogan: Elizabeth Bainbridge
- Madame Serafin: Mary Thomas
- Lady Nelson: Margaret Kingsley
- Flag Captain Hardy: Richard Angas
- Admiral Lord Minto: Eric Shilling
- Naval Surgeon: Richard Jackson
- Wounded Man: Francis Egerton
- Sailors: Harry Nicoll, Stephen Varcoe, Anthony Smith
- Guest: Roger Heath
- Major Domo: Philip O’Reilly