Peter Grimes is a gritty tale of isolation and prejudice filled with a range of rich and exhilarating music. The music from Britten’s iconic opera is recognisable by its striking vocal writing, dramatic choruses, enthralling solos, and the famous Sea Interludes. We have already dived into the Sea Interludes here, but this opera is bursting at the seams with compelling musical elements so here are a few more pieces we have picked out to help you get in the mood for WNO’s production this Spring 2025 Season.
The music in Britten’s operas is distinctly 20th-century and truly intriguing, with clashing harmony, unusual vocal writing, and experimental instrumentation. As well as moments that may seem unsettling for fans of traditional opera, there are a few key and beautiful musical themes…
Now the Great Bear and Pleiades
For fans of great arias, one to look forward to is Now the Great Bear and Pleiades. In this piece, Grimes questions whether the deaths of his apprentices have been out of his control and predetermined by something greater than himself. This aria sits in a challenging part of a tenor’s vocal range meaning it requires much control, an apt representation for the control that Grimes is attempting to have over his destiny. The melody is largely monotonic with a stark accompaniment, until this control suddenly breaks, and the melody becomes frantic. Grimes seemingly manages to regain control for the end of the aria, and the piece is an insight into Grimes’s mental state as he begins to unravel further.
Old Joe has gone fishing
This sea shanty is written in a 6/8-time signature which gives a folk feel to the piece, and it is more tuneful than most of Britten’s music. Peter Grimes drunkenly joins in with his own verse-a counter melody that differs from the main tune, but the crowd quickly brings it back to the repetitive shanty.
Embroidery in Childhood
One of the few true arias in Peter Grimes is Ellen Orford’s Embroidery in Childhood. In this aria, she battles with her personal feelings towards Grimes and the rumours that have become harder to deny, following her discovery of the apprentice’s jumper washing up in the town. It has a lyrical melody and switches between a major and minor key, showing both her sadness over this discovery and her remaining hopes for Grimes and to have children of her own.
Mr. Swallow and Who Holds Himself Apart
The scene is a prime example of how Britten writes for the mob mentality. Mr. Swallow sees Mrs. Sedley frantically calling for the song’s namesake, and her and Auntie begin a cacophonous and overlapping argumentative recitative. As Mr. Swallow arrives to see the cause of the racket, Britten expertly interweaves the three characters’ melody lines to create a sense of organised chaos, just as the townspeople gather to join the conversation. As they arrive on stage, Who Holds Himself Apart begins and the people of the Borough chant that they will destroy Grimes for his cruelty.
We hope this musical exploration has given you a clear idea of the intriguing, dramatic and exciting moments you can expect in this wonderful opera. You can book your tickets now for WNO’s brand-new production of Peter Grimes, opening in Cardiff on 5 April before heading out on tour until 7 June 2025.