Peter Grimes 55 years old

This 1969 BBC production is about as close as we can get to a definitive version of Benjamin Britten's PETER GRIMES, one of the greatest 20th Century operas. The story of the individualistic fisherman hounded by his neighbors who believe he murdered his young apprentice packs tremendous emotional power. The compelling narrative is richly enhanced by its subtexts: the lone outsider versus the conformist mob; the dreamer of improbable dreams that lead to tragedy; the artist (dreamer) versus the Philistines, and the homosexual overtones of Grimes' abuse of his child apprentices. Britten is conductor of his work and tenor Peter Pears is Grimes, 25 years after he created the title role at the opera's premiere. As the widow Ellen Orford, soprano Heather Harper is magnificent. Best of all, the sea is an ever-present actor here. When we don't see it in the background it exerts its presence in the abundant visual references to nets, barrels, and other paraphernalia of a seaside fishing village.

Credits

Peter Grimes Cast

Name	Character
Elizabeth Bainbridge She was 39, now 94 years old	as Auntie

Peter Grimes Crew

Name	Department
Benjamin Britten as Music Score Producer. He was 55 (63) years old when He died	Sound
Benjamin Britten as Conductor. He was 55 (63) years old when He died	Sound
Brian Large as Director. He was 30 (now 85) years old	Directing
Montagu Slater as Writer. He was 67 (54) years old when He died	Writing