BaL 8.04.23 - Britten: Peter Grimes

[Master Jacques]

It's in Opera North's 2023–2024 season:

Così fan Tutte
2 FEB – 6 APR 2024
At multiple venues

Yes indeed - in Tim Albery's 2004 [sic.!] venerable, and now rather creaky, production. The ON blurb is instructive:

It starts with a casual bet.

The wily cynic Don Alfonso wagers that the fiancées of two young men, complacent in their romantic notions of love, won’t stay faithful for a minute if put to the test. It sounds harmless enough and, anyway, the lovers are entirely sure of themselves. But there is cruelty in this game of love and chance.

It’s difficult to think of an opera that contains more music of sheer beauty than Così fan tutte – or has a libretto that is more unsettling.

[Pulcinella]

Did I hear correctly that both of them said the first music we heard was the first interlude (despite the fact that they'd mentioned the court scene)?

[Master Jacques]

Did I hear correctly that both of them said the first music we heard was the first interlude (despite the fact that they'd mentioned the court scene)?

I think they meant that this was the first music we were going to hear this morning. Missing out the court scene was certainly rather strange, from a review which must be concerned with how these various performances create a sense of theatre. But from what's being said, "theatre" is of less concern this morning, than the degree to which Suffolk Social Services ought to have got involved.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think they meant that this was the first music we were going to hear this morning. Missing out the court scene was certainly rather strange, from a review which must be concerned with how these various performances create a sense of theatre. But from what's being said, "theatre" is of less concern this morning, than the degree to which Suffolk Social Services ought to have got involved.

Well I was being ironic . The whole genius of the opera is they way we are sympathetic to a man who on the face of the facts is a bit of a monster. “Grimes is at his exercise etc. “ Peter Grimes is way more “problematic” *. than Cosi,

* apologies

[Master Jacques]

It’s almost a challenge not to find an opera that some one somewhere will find an objection to. Thinking about it that’s one of its major attractions. Just look at Grimes - isn’t the libretto patently overly sympathetic to a child abuser ?.

You are of course quite right, though this morning's BaL topic has been a particular sufferer.

And yet ... I remember a debate in Opera a few years ago, in which one reader was complaining that the magazine's reviewers were always "trying to find politics" in innocent operas. I challenged said reader to come up with a single example of an opera which didn't have political bearing - a long silence followed! For me, any opera worth its salt has to disrupt us, otherwise what's the point? Personally, I find the sentimentality of Grimes a bit much to take nowadays - apart from the wonder of the mob scenes - and prefer other Britten operas.

[Master Jacques]

Well I was being ironic . The whole genius of the opera is they way we are sympathetic to a man who on the face of the facts is a bit of a monster. “Grimes is at his exercise etc. “ Peter Grimes is way more “problematic” *. than Cosi,

* apologies

Apologies - I'm not good at spotting irony in the mornings, but of course you were! And the shift between Crabbe and Britten is precisely as you outline: though Grimes's monstrosity in the opera is in the minds of the baying mob, rather than closer to home. Not so in the poem, which is a terrifying morality.

[Ein Heldenleben]

You are of course quite right, though this morning's BaL topic has been a particular sufferer.

And yet ... I remember a debate in Opera a few years ago, in which one reader was complaining that the magazine's reviewers were always "trying to find politics" in innocent operas. I challenged said reader to come up with a single example of an opera which didn't have political bearing - a long silence followed! For me, any opera worth its salt has to disrupt us, otherwise what's the point? Personally, I find the sentimentality of Grimes a bit much to take nowadays - apart from the wonder of the mob scenes - and prefer other Britten operas.

Yes - didn’t one 19th century opera performance lead to a revolution in Belgium ? I wish we could get back to a bit of that ..

[Ein Heldenleben]

If Hickox / Langridge doesn’t carry the palm I’m going to spend the rest of the day in a huff. What a singer he was.

[Wolfram]

Did I hear correctly that both of them said the first music we heard was the first interlude (despite the fact that they'd mentioned the court scene)?

AMG did introduce the clip as the opening of the opera, to be followed by some very awkward back-tracking. Too much AMG this morning.

[Master Jacques]

Too much AMG this morning.

Though to keep the metaphors flowing, he's actually keeping the boat afloat. The guest reviewer is getting tangled in cross-currents rather perilously: her "Alan Okie" managed to conflate tenor "Alan Oke" with the baritone "Alan Opie".

[Master Jacques]

Yes - didn’t one 19th century opera performance lead to a revolution in Belgium ? I wish we could get back to a bit of that ..

La muette de Portici, aka Masaniello - and a wonderful political drama it is, too! Auber is a particular passion of mine...

[Ein Heldenleben]

La muette de Portici, aka Masaniello - and a wonderful political drama it is, too! Auber is a particular passion of mine...

Don’t tell me you’ve seen it ?

[Master Jacques]

Don’t tell me you’ve seen it ?

I have. A special trip to Dessau about 10 years ago ... alas, it was badly cut, and not well done theatrically or musically. But I enjoyed my German trip, as I always do.

[Master Jacques]

If Hickox / Langridge doesn’t carry the palm I’m going to spend the rest of the day in a huff. What a singer he was.

Your wish was Kate's Kommand.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Your wish was Kate's Kommand.

Worthy winner. I saw him live at ENO - that final scene unforgettable . ENO Chorus and orchestra were also,stunning. As indeed were the latter in Die tote Stadt last week if I can put in a plug for the beleaguered band.