Benjamin Britten - Peter Grimes

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Peter Grimes, Op. 33 - Opera in a Prologue and Three Acts (1945)

Peter Grimes - Jon Vickers

Ellen Orford - Heather Harper

Captain Balstrode - Jonathan Summers

Auntie - Elizabeth Bainbridge

First Niece - Teresa Cahill

Second Niece - Anne Pashley

Bob Boles - John Dobson

Swallow - Forbes Robinson

Mrs. Sedley - Patricia Payne

Rev. Horace Adams - John Lanigan

Ned Keene - Thomas Allen

Hobson - Richard van Allan

Chorus and Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Sir Colin Davis, conductor

Peter Grimes is Britten's most famous opera and arguably his greatest achievement. Although he wrote the role of Grimes for his life-long partner, Peter Pears, it is widely acknowledged that perhaps the greatest interpretation of the role came from Jon Vickers in this recording.

The music is adequately eerie and atmospheric, describing the otherworldly feel of the coastal Borough, which is based on Britten's Aldeburgh, and it continually rustles with the restlessness of the Borough as gossip and hearsay become more and more important in determining whether Grimes is innocent or not. A beautiful piece of work, and in my opinion, one of the greatest operas ever written.

More about the plot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Grimes

Download:

Disc 1

Disc 2