Company

Singer

Tenor

Allan Clayton

Peter Grimes

Soprano

Maria Bengtsson

Ellen Orford

Contralto

Catherine Wyn-Rogers

Auntie

Anna-Sophie Neher

Niece I

Ilanah Lobel-Torres

Niece II

Baritone

Simon Keenlyside

Balstrode

Mezzo-soprano

Rosie Aldridge

Mrs (Nabob) Sedley

Bass

Clive Bayley

Swallow

Jacques Imbrailo

Ned Keene

John Graham-Hall

Bob Boles

James Gilchrist

Rev. Horace Adams

Stephen Richardson

Hobson

Madrid

Spain

Teatro Real de Madrid

London

United Kingdom

Royal Opera House

Rome

Italy

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Paris

France

Opéra National de Paris

Joana Mallwitz

Conductor

Stage director

Deborah Warner

Chorus master

Chin-Lien Wu

Set designer

Michael Levine

Lighting designer

Peter Mumford

Video designer

Will Duke

Choreographer

Kim Brandstrup

Costume designer

Luis F. Carvalho

Palais Garnier

Choeurs de l´Opéra national de Paris

Orchestre de l´Opéra national de Paris

English

Peter Grimes Britten

Public

Private

Opera

French

Approved

When in 1945, Benjamin Britten created his first opera, Peter Grimes, for the reopening of Sadler's Wells in London, the success was resounding. Inspired by a poem by George Crabbe, the British composer did more than set a compatriot's text to music: he marked the revival of English opera, which almost disappeared after Purcell. If the superb orchestral interludes and the assertive lyricism give the work a classical appearance, the subject is terribly disturbing. Who is Peter Grimes, this man exposed to the hostility of his village, this fisherman from Suffolk whose apprentice dies on the high seas? A murderer or an innocent? a child abuser or a victim of prejudice? an anti-hero or a poet? Familiar with Britten, Deborah Warner, invited for the first time to the Paris Opera, preserves the mystery of this fascinating character while emphasizing the conflict between the group and the individual – a particularly topical theme. More information onhttps://www.operadeparis.fr/saison-22...

Mrs Sedley

IN FEW WORDS:

When Benjamin Britten produced his first opera, Peter Grimes, for the reopening of Sadler’s Wells in London in 1945, its success was both immediate and resounding. Drawing inspiration from a poem by George Crabbe, the British composer did more than simply set to music the text by his compatriot: this work signalled a renaissance in English opera, which had all but disappeared since the death of Purcell. Whilst Britten’s superb orchestral interludes and accomplished lyricism confer upon the work a classical quality, its subject is thoroughly disturbing. Who is this Suffolk fisherman, Peter Grimes, whose apprentice drowns at sea; the butt of the villagers’ hostility? A murderer or an innocent man? A child‑killer or the victim of prejudice? An anti‑hero or a poet? These are some of the questions that make this character one of the most fascinating in the operatic repertoire. Invited to the Paris Opera for the first time and a fine connoisseur of Britten, Deborah Warner preserves all the mystery of this complex work, whilst emphasising the conflict between the group and the individual – a particularly burning issue.

Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten, From Opéra National de Paris (2023/2023), Directed by Deborah Warner,, Conductor Joana Mallwitz

Credits (Cast & Crew)

Opéra National de Paris

Joana Mallwitz

Deborah Warner

Cast

Allan Clayton

Maria Bengtsson

Catherine Wyn-Rogers

Anna-Sophie Neher

Ilanah Lobel-Torres

Simon Keenlyside

Rosie Aldridge

Clive Bayley

Jacques Imbrailo

John Graham-Hall

James Gilchrist

Stephen Richardson

Crew

Chin-Lien Wu

Michael Levine

Peter Mumford

Will Duke

Kim Brandstrup

Luis F. Carvalho

Ensemble

Choeurs de l´Opéra national de Paris

Orchestre de l´Opéra national de Paris

Co-Producer

Teatro Real de Madrid

Royal Opera House

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Opéra National de Paris

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos 1

Photos 26

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues 10