What is the story of the opera Peter Grimes?
During an inquest at the town hall, the lawyer Swallow questions the fisherman Peter Grimes about the death of his apprentice during a storm at sea. Though the room is crowded with villagers hostile to Grimes, Swallow accepts the man’s explanation of the event and rules that the boy died accidentally.
What type of opera is Peter Grimes?
Peter Grimes, Op. 33, is an opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the section “Peter Grimes”, in George Crabbe’s long narrative poem The Borough….Original cast.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 7 June 1945 (Conductor: Reginald Goodall) |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Grimes, a fisherman | tenor | Peter Pears |
Is Peter Grimes a good opera?
Peter Grimes is a big opera with a very tight focus. There are huge choral scenes and many supporting players, but the work holds fast to Grimes himself. Grimes is the ultimate outsider, one whom Britten associated with strongly. He’s far from a hero, not even close, but he’s no pantomime villain either.
Who created Peter Grimes?
Benjamin Britten
Peter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten. It was first performed in 1945. It is generally thought to be the most important British opera of the 20th century. It is about a community in a small fishing village in the east of England in the 1820s.
What happened to Peter Grimes?
A boy apprenticed to the fisherman Peter Grimes has died at sea. An inquest is being held to determine the cause of death. After hearing Grimes’s testimony, the coroner, Mr Swallow, finds that the boy died in ‘accidental circumstances’.
When was Peter Grimes first performed?
June 7, 1945, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, United KingdomPeter Grimes / First performance
When was Peter Grimes written?
1945Peter Grimes / Written
When did Peter Grimes premiere?
What instruments are used in Peter Grimes?
Instrumentation: 2 flute (both double piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (2nd doubles Eb clarinet), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, chimes, xylophone, snare drum, tambourine, cymbals, gong, bass drum, harp, strings. Duration: 16 minutes in four movements.