Britten’s opera Peter Grimes may be approaching its 75th anniversary but with its themes of persecution of outsiders, child exploitation and even coastal flooding, it’s as topical as ever.
This poleaxing performance by a stellar cast backed by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner cut into the bone like an icy North Sea wind.
Four choirs, headed by that of the Bergen Philharmonic, delivered the Borough folk’s denunciations of the rugged fisherman with terrifying savagery.
Vera Rostin Wexelsen’s staging drew vivid characterisations from the cast, led by Roderick Williams as Balstrode and Erin Wall as a benevolent Ellen Orford. Clive Bayley’s hypocritical Swallow, Robert Murray’s self-righteous Bob Boles and James Gilchrist’s prissy Reverend Horace Adams were also impressive, as were Marcus Farnsworth’s Ned Keene, Susan Bickley’s Auntie and Catherine Wyn-Rogers’ prudish Mrs Sedley.
Sadly, Stuart Skelton in the title role was not in good voice. An unsteadiness in the first act deteriorated to sabotage several notable passages. But he inhabited the role with such volatile introspection and aggression that it scarcely detracted from this performance. Look out for the recording.
