Black Beauty, the friendly, patient stallion with a white blaze upon his forehead, is one of the most familiar figures in childrens' literature. After the first lively carefree years in the fields, Black Beauty learns to accept the saddle and bridle and the rule of her masters. But a succession of misfortunes shows that the life of a horse can be harsh and painful. This touching portrait, full of drama and sadness, is as moving now as when it was first written in 1877.

Music: Vaughan Williams, Humperdinck, Sullivan