Billy Budd, Sailor is Herman Melville’s novella exploring themes of innocence, justice, and the corrupting influence of power. It is the tale of a noble young sailor who is conscripted, falls victim to petty jealousy, and pays the price with his life. Set aboard a British naval ship during the Napoleonic Wars, Budd is falsely accused of mutiny and sentenced to death. Even as he is martyred, he retains his integrity. As part of its continuing celebration of the centennial of Billy Budd, Sailor’s publication, the Berkshire County Historical Society, in collaboration with Berkshire Opera Festival and Tanglewood Learning Institute, will present selections from the 1951 opera Billy Budd composed by Benjamin Britten with a libretto by authors E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier. The selections will be paired with readings by actor Ryan Winkles.