Britten: Peter Grimes ~ Vickers

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Music reviews of Britten: Peter Grimes ~ Vickers

Music Review: One of the ten greatest opera recordings of the 20th century
Rating: 5 Stars

I know Britten did not like Vickers' performance, and one reviewer strongly hints that Vickers did not like Britten because of his sexual preferences. Maybe so, but I doubt it strongly. In one of his rare interviews, Vickers went out of his way to praise Peter Pears as an artist and a human being. While I don't think Vickers condoned homosexual behavior as a general rule, I sense no hatred for Britten or Pears. Vickers is infamous for not singing Tannhauser for moral reasons. Some say it was because Vickers could not handle the role vocally. No. If that was so, he would state that as being the reason publicly. He did it often enough with Tristan. How could he sing Siegmund, who has an incestuous conjigal relationship with his sister, while condemning Tannhauser? Siegmund is a pagan warrior, living according to his code. He was also meant to do what he did. Tannhauser disgraces his calling again and again. I see Vickers' point.

He stated clearly that he did not see Grimes as a monster at all. If Grimes really was a brutal child murderer (in the opera, of course), then I don't think Vickers would have sung the part. He saw Grimes as an outcast, not just as a homosexual fisherman, and he played him as such, thus infuriating Britten.

True, Peter Grimes is brutal, and very single-minded. However, moments of affection do appear, and moments of gruff caring. There are several times in the opera where we, as the audience, are effectively alone with this strange character. I do see and hear a tender streak and a soul concerned for the suffering of his second apprentice.

Jonathan Summer's Balstrode is a rock-solid performance, nuanced and well-honed. This Balstrode brooks no stupidity and seems to look upon dishonesty with disgust. He seems to be gruff, and impatient with his friend's secretive ways, but also rather fond of him. In spite of Grimes' obvious faults, he stands staunchly by his friend, until the end. Ned Keene also is helpful and sympathetic, as is Ellen, who is in love with Peter Grimes.

None of these people strikes me as being willfully stupid and obtuse. The town views Grimes with rampant suspicion. Obviously, they cannot prove their suspicions, but they take out their frustrated feelings on him anyway.

Do I think Grimes is a child murderer? Or rapest? Or molester? No. I do think there is a child killer in the opera, but it's not Grimes.

Who? It's interesting to note that there are two religious figures in Britten's Peter Grimes. Horace Adams, the rector, and Bob Boles. Adams is treated rather kindly, in the first act, by the composer, and by the characters, including Grimes. When Swallow asks if anyone came to help, Grimes says that somebody brought the parson. Vickers, by his tone of voice, seems to me to indicate that Grimes did not hate or even dislike Horace Adams. However, Bob Boles almost prokes him to violence. There is an undercurrent of hatred between Grimes and Boles that is almost tangible.

How did the second apprentice die? Exposure. The third? He sliped and fell on the rocks. It seems, from the plot, that Grimes did not cause his death. True, Ellen saw bruises on the boy... but fishing is a rough way to make a living. Not seeing bruises on the poor lad would be very unusual. How did the first one die?

Even Grimes does not know. This is stated plainly in the mad scene.

Bob Boles is an interesting character, almost being the epitome of hypocrisy. In the early parts of the opera, Boles states very plainly that drinking is WRONG... and so are any liaiason's with Aunty's nieces. In The Boar, Aunty's tavern, Boles willingly gets roaring drunk. He attempts to rape (Yes, that is the word.) Aunty's nieces. He has a rabid hatred for Grimes, stating plainly that Grimes is a boy killer. Grimes depises Boles. Do the math. Nothing can be proven, but... Bob Boles, though seemingly proviedd as comic relilef and as a voice for the town, seems to me to go deeper. Boles just might be a killer... of the helpless. Maybe not, but the evidence is compelling. Peter Grimes contains a horror story within its borders that is as macabre as anything Hitchcock ever directed... all done right under our noses.

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