Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh Beach

[Flay]

This 2013 centenary production is available on the iPlayer again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05x2wfg

Even though the opera is in English, it is subtitled, which I think is a great help.

[oddoneout]

I watched this first time around. The production had quite a bit of coverage from local media and I have never forgotten the problems they faced from shifting shingle, lack of facilities, and the perishing cold. The latter was particularly a shock as elsewhere in the country was sunny and warm, but that year there was a persistent strong easterly airflow. Sunny yes, but warm definitely not - getting hypothermia in June was not something that had been factored in, they'd been thinking more of getting a nice tan at the seaside...
The end result was quite something though, and I think probably reached a wider audience in the area than would otherwise have been the case for a standard venue, thanks to the coverage.

[Flay]

There's no sign of an audience. And where was the orchestra located?

[oddoneout]

There's no sign of an audience. And where was the orchestra located?

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/18/peter-grimes-on-the-beach-aldeburgh-festival-review

More on the nuts and bolts side of it

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/12/peter-grimes-on-the-beach

[hmvman]

Thanks for the link, Flay. At the time I regretted not going to Aldeburgh to see it live (I wouldn't have enjoyed the cold though) but I very much enjoyed the film of it shown in cinemas later that year. Looking forward to seeing it again.

[Barbirollians]

The Friday I went it was not that cold but it was showery and the showers seemed splendidly timed arriving largely in the outdoor scenes. An evening not to be forgotten.

[gradus]

That's how I recall it - a memorable event.

[Flay]

the recorded sounds of the orchestra and chorus will be played over the beachscape as the principal singers perform live, cued and conducted by Stuart Bedford. "We call it a very sophisticated karaoke," the production manager says

So that's how they did it. Thanks oddy

[MrGongGong]

So that's how they did it. Thanks oddy

Dave and Ian (Sound Intermedia) did it ..... and the helicopter quartet and so on ....