The chorus chants the name of Peter Grimes in accusation. Again and again the name repeats and the chorus feels extra special tonight reminding me of the Mefistofoles performance. With a frothy passion they sing:
Who holds himself apart Lets his pride rise.
Him who despises us We’ll destroy.
And cruelty becomes His enterprise.
Him who despises us We’ll destroy.
Our curse shall fall upon his evil day. We shall Tame his arrogance.
We’ll make the murderer pay for his crime. Peter Grimes! Grimes!
Chaltin got us so near the stage that I can see one of the chorus members wiping away tears. I suppose it could just be allergies, or a sad memory, but I feel it. Passion! The singers aren’t alone, the orchestra is bringing it tonight as well.
Britten brings so fully to life the cold heaving seas of Britain that during intermission I text my music expert Rob with a question, “who does the sea better, Debussey or Britten?” It turns out that my ear is not misled and the 6 sea interludes from this opera are often played as a stand-alone in concerts. It parallels the volatility of these opera characters.
Britten says, “The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual.” At it’s heart this is who Peter Grimes is, the combined result of a gossipy amoral mob and the individual desperate to not only survive, but to love. Britten is also at no point going to let us forget who the title character is.
If I haven’t sold the chorus and orchestra enough to get you to see this opera. The leads Allan Clayton is also super strong, though he plays the role inwardly at first.
“Peter Grimes! Peter Grimes…” The title character played by Allan repeats his own name as if questioning his own identity. In a heart stuttering mad scene his interior conflicts are fully exposed, and this is the magnificent tenor who we saw play Hamlet, He’s been slowly sculpting this eponymous moment since Act I.
Todays production projects crashing waves onto the stage. I close my eyes; the projections are unnecessary. The water and the power of the ocean are in the ascending and descending horns and I drift away smiling on the sounds.
So What is Peter Grimes all About?
Peter Grimes is a fisherman who is struggling to survive in a gossipy seaside down and to make matters worse whether from neglect or overwork his apprentices keep mysteriously dying.
Notes on the Production:
Composer…………………… Benjamin Britten
Peter Grimes………………. Allan Clayton
Ellen Orford……………….. Nicole Car
Rev. Horace Adams……… Tony Stevenson
Captain Balstrode……….. Adam Plachetka
Hobson………………………. Harold Wilson
Ned Keene………………….. Justin Austin
John…………………………… Brandon Chosed
Auntie………………………… Denice Graves
Swallow………………………..Patrick Carfizzi
Mrs. Sedley…………………… Michaela Martens
Conductor…………………….. Nicholas Carter
Met Opera
10/22/22