Britten discovered Peter Grimes in an 1810 poem written in English; his very first opera was met with acclaim. As an extremely gifted melodist, the composer set off a new era for British opera, using music to suggest things the written text merely implied.
Peter Grimes is a troubled man full of contradictions, a humble fisherman from the east coast of England. Several of his apprentices disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Rejected by the townspeople he offended by refusing to abide by their norms, he becomes a lonely, withdrawn antihero.
Christof Loy’s iconic take on the piece is a tribute to the struggle for social peace of an underdog, who turns out to be more of a liberated dreamer than his peers. This must-see production includes American tenor Sean Panikkar as the lead and is conducted by Wayne Marshall, who’s already beloved by the Lyon audience.