Operas by Benjamin Britten
Paul Bunyan (1941) Peter Grimes (1945) The Rape of Lucretia (1946) Albert Herring (1947) Billy Budd (1951) Gloriana (1953) The Turn of the Screw (1954) Noye's Fludde (1958) A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960) Curlew River (1964) The Burning Fiery Furnace (1966) The Prodigal Son (1968) Owen Wingrave (1971) Death in Venice (1973) Britten redirects here. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1156x768, 174 KB) Maggi Hambling The Scallop (2003) Aldeburgh beach. ... Paul Bunyan was a choral operetta composed by Benjamin Britten with lyrics by W. H. Auden. ... The Rape of Lucretia (Op. ... Albert Herring is a comic opera by Benjamin Britten. ... Billy Budd is an English language opera by Benjamin Britten, first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on December 1, 1951. ... Gloriana is an opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten to an English libretto by William Plomer, based on historical incidents. ... The Turn of the Screw is a little-known 20th century English opera composed by Benjamin Britten, based on the novel The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. ... Noyes Fludde (Noahs Flood) is a late 16th century miracle play, first performed in Chester, and set to music by Benjamin Britten in 1957. ... Benjamin Brittens A Midsummer Nights Dream is an opera based on the play of the same name by Shakespeare. ... Curlew River — A Parable for Church Performance (Op. ... The Burning Fiery Furnace is a parable (the story of Nebuchadnezzar and the three Israelites) for church performance by Benjamin Britten. ... The Prodigal Son is an opera by Benjamin Britten with a libretto by William Plomer. ... Owen Wingrave (Op. ... For other uses, see Death in Venice (disambiguation). ...
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Peter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto adapted by Montagu Slater from the Peter Grimes section of George Crabbe's poem The Borough. The Borough of the opera is a fictional village which shares some similarities with Crabbe's, and later Britten's, own home Aldeburgh, on England's east coast, around 1830. For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... Britten redirects here. ... Antonio Ghislanzoni, nineteenth century Italian librettist. ... Charles Montagu Slater (born in 1902 in Lancashire, died in December 1956 in London) was an English writer and librettist most notable for writing the libretto to the Benjamin Britten opera Peter Grimes, based on George Crabbes poem The Borough. ... George Crabbe (December 24, 1754 - February 3, 1832) was an English poet and naturalist. ... A poem by George Crabbe published in 1810. ... Map sources for Aldeburgh at grid reference TM4656 Aldeburgh is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England; it is located on the Alde river at 52° North, 1° East 1. ...

It was first performed at Sadler's Wells in London on June 7, 1945, conducted by Reginald Goodall and was the first of Britten's operas to be a critical and popular success. It is still widely performed, both in the UK and internationally, and is considered part of the standard repertoire. In addition, the "Four Sea Interludes" were published separately and are frequently performed as an orchestral suite. The London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera The English National Opera (ENO) is Londons second opera company, after the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Sir Reginald Goodall (July 13, 1901 - May 5, 1990) was a British conductor. ...

Roles

Sir Reginald Goodall (July 13, 1901 - May 5, 1990) was a British conductor. ... This article is about Tenor vocalists in music. ... Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears (June 22, 1910 – April 3, 1986) was an English tenor and life-long partner of the composer Benjamin Britten. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... A British soprano, she was among the founding members of Benjamin Brittens English Opera Group and created roles in many of his operas, including: Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes the Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia Lady Billows in Albert Herring Elizabeth I in Gloriana Mrs. ... In music, an alto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a soprano. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... For other uses, see Baritone (disambiguation). ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the deepest vocal range of the human voice. ... Brannigan, Owen (b. ... For other uses, see Baritone (disambiguation). ... This article is about Tenor vocalists in music. ... Morgan Jones is a Welsh television presenter. ... This article is about Tenor vocalists in music. ... A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the deepest vocal range of the human voice. ...

History

Britten and his partner Peter Pears read the poem by Crabbe and were struck by it. They both had a strong hand in drafting the story, and in this process the character of Grimes became far more complex. Rather than being the clear-cut villain he is in Crabbe's version, he became a victim of both cruel fate and society, while retaining darker aspects in his character.^[1] It is left to the audience to decide which version is more true, and to see how clear-cut or ambiguous the various characters are.^[2] Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears (June 22, 1910 – April 3, 1986) was an English tenor and life-long partner of the composer Benjamin Britten. ...

Pears was certainly the intended Peter Grimes,^[3] and it is likely that Britten wrote the role of Ellen Orford for Joan Cross. The work has been called "a powerful allegory of homosexual oppression," ^[4] and one of "the true operatic masterpieces of the 20th century,"^[3] but the composer's own contemporary (1948) summation of the work was simpler: A British soprano, she was among the founding members of Benjamin Brittens English Opera Group and created roles in many of his operas, including: Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes the Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia Lady Billows in Albert Herring Elizabeth I in Gloriana Mrs. ... The Death of Orpheus In Albrecht Dürers 1494 drawing, the banner hung in the tree reads: Orfeus der erst puseran (Orpheus, the first sodomite). The word puseran(t) derives from the Latin bulgarus from which come also the terms bugger in English and bougre in French. ...

"a subject very close to my heart—the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual."^[5]

Though in the original version of the libretto Grimes' relations with the boys were clearly pederastic, Pears persuaded Slater to cut out most of the pederasty from the final version.^[6] The opera was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundations and is "dedicated to the memory of Natalie Koussevitzky", wife of the Russian-born American conductor Serge Koussevitzky. Its American premiere was given in 1946 at Tanglewood by Koussevitzky's pupil, Leonard Bernstein. Pederasty or paederasty (literally boy-love, see Etymology below) refers to an intimate or erotic relationship between an adolescent boy and an adult male outside his immediate family. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Tanglewood Music Shed and lawn. ... Leonard Bernstein in 1971 Leonard Bernstein (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, and pianist. ...

In 1967, the Metropolitan Opera mounted a "landmark" production directed by Tyrone Guthrie and starring Jon Vickers in the role of Grimes.^[3] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Jon S. Vickers, CC , D.Mus. ...

Synopsis

Prologue

Peter Grimes is questioned at an inquest over the death of his apprentice. The townsfolk, all present, make it clear they think Grimes guilty and deserving of punishment. Although the coroner, Mr. Swallow, determines the boy's death to be accidental and clears Grimes without a proper trial, he advises Grimes not to get another apprentice. As the court is cleared, Ellen Orford, the schoolmistress, attempts to comfort Grimes as he rages against what he sees as the Borough community's unwillingness to give him a true second chance. If youre looking for the TV show, see The Apprentice. ...

Act I

The chorus, who constitute "the Borough," sing of their weary daily round and their relationship with the sea and the seasons. Grimes claims to be in desperate need of help to fish, and his friend, the apothecary Ned Keene, finds him a new apprentice from the workhouse. Nobody will volunteer to fetch the boy, until Ellen (whom Grimes wishes to marry) offers.

When Ellen brings the apprentice to Grimes at the pub that evening, he immediately sets off to his hut, despite the fact that the Borough is weathering an ominous storm.

Act II

On Sunday morning while most of the Borough is at church, Ellen talks with John, the apprentice. She is horrified when she finds a bruise on his neck. When she confronts Grimes about it, he brusquely claims that it was an accident. Growing agitated at her mounting concern and interference, he strikes her and runs off with the boy. This did not go unseen: first Keene, Auntie, and Bob Boles, then the chorus generally evolve into a mob to investigate Grimes's hut. As the men march off, Ellen, Auntie, and the nieces sing sadly of the relationship of women with men.

At the hut, Grimes accuses the ever silent John of "telling stories" then becomes lost in his memories of the dead apprentice, reliving the boy's death of thirst. When he hears the mob of villagers approaching he quickly comes back to reality and gets ready to set out to sea: he tells John to be careful climbing down to his boat, but to no avail: the boy falls to his death. When the mob reaches the hut Grimes is gone, and they find nothing out of order, so disperse.

Act III

Nighttime in the Borough. While a dance is going on, Mrs. Sedley tries to convince the authorities that Grimes is a murderer, but to no avail. Ellen and Captain Balstrode confide in each other: Grimes has returned after many days at sea, and Balstrode has discovered a jersey washed ashore: a jersey that Ellen recognizes as one she had knitted for John. Mrs. Sedley overhears this, and with the knowledge that Grimes has returned, she is able to instigate another mob. Singing "Him who despises us we'll destroy," the villagers go off in search of Grimes.

While the chorus can be heard searching for him, Grimes appears onstage, singing a long monologue: John's death has seemingly pushed Grimes, already dangerously unstable, over the edge. Ellen and Balstrode find him, and the old captain encourages Grimes to take his boat out to sea and sink it. Grimes leaves. The next morning, the Borough begins its day anew. There is a report from the coast guard of a ship sinking off the coast. This is dismissed by Auntie as "one of these rumours."

Selected recordings

Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears (June 22, 1910 – April 3, 1986) was an English tenor and life-long partner of the composer Benjamin Britten. ... A British soprano, she was among the founding members of Benjamin Brittens English Opera Group and created roles in many of his operas, including: Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes the Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia Lady Billows in Albert Herring Elizabeth I in Gloriana Mrs. ... Sir Reginald Goodall (July 13, 1901 - May 5, 1990) was a British conductor. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... EMI Classics is a record label of EMI. It was formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases. ... Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears (June 22, 1910 – April 3, 1986) was an English tenor and life-long partner of the composer Benjamin Britten. ... We dont have an article called Jean Watson Start this article Search for Jean Watson in. ... Britten redirects here. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... It has been suggested that Decca Music Group be merged into this article or section. ... Jon S. Vickers, CC , D.Mus. ... Heather Harper (born May 8, 1930) is an Irish operatic soprano. ... Elizabeth Bainbridge is a retired opera singer from West Sussex, England. ... For the former Formula One driver, see Colin Davis (driver) Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE (b. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Phillips may refer to: Phillips Head, a type of self-centering screw head shaped like a plus sign. ... Jon S. Vickers, CC , D.Mus. ... Heather Harper (born May 8, 1930) is an Irish operatic soprano. ... Norman Bailey is an operatic bass-baritone, who was born in South Africa and studied in Vienna. ... Elizabeth Bainbridge is a retired opera singer from West Sussex, England. ... For the former Formula One driver, see Colin Davis (driver) Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE (b. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Dame Felicity Lott (born May 8, 1947) is an English soprano universally known as Flott. ... Sir Thomas Allen is an English opera singer from Seaham Harbour, County Durham. ... ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... EMI Classics is a record label of EMI. It was formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases. ... EMI Classics is a record label of EMI. It was formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases. ... Philip Langridge CBE is an English tenor considered to be among the foremost exponents of English opera and oratorio. ... Alan Opie (born 22 March 1945 in Redruth, Cornwall, UK) is a Cornish baritone, primarily known as an opera singer. ... Ann Howard is an Australian author and journalist. ... David Atherton (born 3 January 1944, Blackpool, England) is an English conductor. ... The London Coliseum, home of English National Opera English National Opera (ENO), located at the London Coliseum in St. ... Philip Langridge CBE is an English tenor considered to be among the foremost exponents of English opera and oratorio. ... Alan Opie (born 22 March 1945 in Redruth, Cornwall, UK) is a Cornish baritone, primarily known as an opera singer. ... Richard Hickox CBE (born March 5, 1948) is an English conductor of choral, orchestral and operatic music. ... The City of London Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra which was founded in 1971 by Richard Hickox, who is still its music director. ... The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... Chandos Records is an independent classical music label based in the UK. They have high standards of sound engineering quality. ... For the former Formula One driver, see Colin Davis (driver) Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE (b. ... The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... Franz Welser-Möst (born 16 August 1960) is an Austrian conductor, and the seventh and current music director of The Cleveland Orchestra. ... The Zurich Opera is an opera company in Zurich Switzerland. ... EMI Classics is a record label of EMI. It was formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases. ...

Notes

Sources

• Stephen Arthur Allen, "He Descended Into Hell: Peter Grimes, Ellen Orford and Salvaton Denied", The Cambridge Companion to Benjamin Britten, Ed. Mervyn Cooke, Cambridge University Press, 1999, pp. 81-94.

External links

• Peter Grimes: From Planning to Performance
• Further Peter Grimes discography
• More information about Peter Grimes and other Britten works, including online research resources, on the Britten - Pears Foundation website
• Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes (BBC synopsis)