Overview
Synopsis
The tragic story of Peter Grimes revolves around the tormented title character, a fisherman who finds himself shunned by the rest of his small village. At once the protagonist and the anti-hero, Grimes is gruff and unpopular, but the character is crafted with a certain degree of ambiguity so the audience constantly questions whether he is truly a good or bad person. His former apprentice died at sea, and although Grimes was cleared of any wrongdoing, the village still believes that he was responsible and are ever suspicious of him. Despite being warned against doing so by the court, Grimes takes on a new apprentice, though he is constantly haunted by the guilt of the other boy鈥檚 death. Despite the help of the town schoolmistress, Ellen, who plans to marry Grimes and try to create a better life for him, the new apprentice himself meets a tragic end. The borough, convinced that Grimes is a murderer, condemns him. Descending further and further into madness as the mob approaches, Grimes sails his boat out to sea to sink it, never to return.
Show Information
- Music
- Benjamin Britten
- Libretto
- Montagu Slater
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- George Crabbe’s 1810 book The Borough
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1945
- Genres
- Drama
- Time & Place
- an english fishing village, 1830s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- None
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Opera, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child Characters, Large Cast
Context
The tragic account of Peter Grimes is based on a narrative poem from George Crabbe鈥檚 1810 book The Borough. Crabbe grew up in Aldeburgh, a small fishing village, and according to Crabbe鈥檚 son, the tormented character of Peter Grimes was based on a real fisherman named Tom Brown. Composer Benjamin Britten grew up just 25 miles north of Aldebourgh and also felt a strong connection with the sea, and so crafting music to evoke the natural sounds and atmosphere of the coast came to him
to read the context for Peter Grimes and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
The scene opens on a small fishing village in England. A coroner鈥檚 inquest is being conducted at the town hall by Mr. Swallow about the death at sea of a young fisherman apprenticed to Peter Grimes. Grimes is questioned, and all of the townspeople present make it clear that they believe him to be guilty. Swallow, however, clears Grimes of any charges, accepting his account of events, but tells him that if he ever wants to have another apprentice, he should not do so unless he
to read the plot for Peter Grimes and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Prologue
- The Moot Hall (Hobson, Peter, Ellen, Swallow, Ned Keene, Mrs. Sedley, Burgesses)
- Act I
- Interlude I - Dawn (orchestra)
- Scene 1: The Waterfront (Burgesses, Peter, Ned Keene, Auntie, Nieces, Mrs. Sedley, Hobson, Ellen, Balstrode, Swallow, Bob Boles, Dr. Crabbe)
- Interlude II - Storm (orchestra)
- Scene 2: The Boar Tavern (Auntie, Mrs. Sedley, Bob Boles, Peter Grimes, Ellen, Hobson, Ned Keene, Balstrode, Nieces, Burgesses)
Act II:
- Interlude III - Sunday Morning (orchestra)
- Scene 1: The Street (Burgesses, John, Peter, Rector, Swallow, Ned Keene, Bob Boles, Nieces, Ellen, Auntie, Dr. Crabbe, Mrs. Sedley)
- Interlude IV - Passacaglia (orchestra)
- Scene 2: Grimes鈥檚 Hut (Male Burgesses, Balstrode, Swallow, Rector, John, Peter)
Act III:
- Interlude V- Moonlight (orchestra)
- Scene 1: The Waterfront (Burgesses, Rector, Mrs. Sedley, Swallow, Nieces, Ned Keene, Balstrode, Ellen, Hobson, Dr. Crabbe)
- Interlude VI (orchestra)
- Scene 2: The Waterfront (Grimes, Ellen, Balstrode, Burgesses, Auntie, Bob Boles, Swallow, )
- Scene 3: The Waterfront (Burgesses, Bob Boles, Swallow, Auntie)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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