Opera in a prologue and 3 acts
Libretto by Montagu Slater
First performed June 7 1945, Sadler's Wells, London
This production first seen October 8 2017
Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before curtain up, available here, shortly before opening night and everywhere where podcasts can be found.
Sung in English with German & English surtitles
Peter Grimes is questioned during an inquest into the death of his apprentice at sea. Despite being cleared of any wrong doing, rumours about his guilt circulate among the villagers. Only the widowed teacher Ellen Orford dreams of a future with Grimes. ACT 1 Fishermen and women describe their tough life on the coast, made less intolerable by quantities of gin. An approaching storm unsettles everybody. All shun Grimes, only Captain Balstrode and the quack Keene help him pull up his boat. Keene has procured another apprentice for Grimes from the workhouse. Ellen Orford offers to collect the boy. A storm tide's approaching. Balstrode advises Grimes to start a new life elsewhere. Grimes holds on tight to his dream of winning the village round, through hard work and wealth, and then marrying Ellen. Balstrode warns him not to let »the old tragedy« repeat itself with the new apprentice. Late evening, in the pub, Grimes broods over life in metaphorical imagery. Balstrode prevents an argument that threatens to breakout with the other customers. Soaked by their journey through the storm, Ellen Orford arrives with the child. Despite other people's misgivings, Grimes leaves with the boy. INTERVAL, ACT 2 A Sunday morning, while people are at church, Ellen Orford finds a bruise on the child's neck. Grimes arrives to take the lad out fishing, on his day of rest. Ellen reproaches Grimes, who pushes her aside and leaves with the boy. The men gather to call the fisherman to account. Grimes hears the villagers approaching while preparing to go and catch a huge shoal he's spotted. He tells the boy to climb down the cliff to the boat. The child slips, falling to his death. Grimes disappears. ACT 3 A party's in full swing. Mrs Sedley voices her suspicions that Grimes, who hasn't been seen for days, has murdered his apprentice. Ellen, overheard by Mrs Sedley, shows Balstrode the boy's jersey, which she found by the tide-mark. The inhabitants of the Borough decide to punish the fisherman. Grimes hears the mob searching for him. Ellen and Balstrode appear. Balstrode tells Grimes to take his boat out and scuttle it. Early next morning the coastguards report that a boat's sinking. Nobody takes much notice.
Driven into a corner, disowned by a community who blame him for an accident that killed his apprentice, after the first one died at sea, because they'd run out of water – Peter Grimes is a tragic figure, at the mercy of a narrow-minded rural community’s bigotry. Keith Warner, with a passion for psychodrama, draws a haunting portrait of a fishing community, portraying people thrown together in a claustrophobic world. Ellen Orford finds the jersey she knitted the second apprentice washed up on the beach. With the people baying for Grimes‘ blood, Balstrode, his only friend, tells him to take the boat out, and sink it.
First performed just after World War II, it’s probably Britain’s national opera. Fulfilling Britten’s aim to »acknowledge the never-ending struggle of men and women who wrest their lives and livelihoods from the sea«. His monumental The Four Sea Interludes, does just this.
