Peter Grimes: Nancy's Notes

It's hard to convey how in love with this performance I am. It ranks right up there with the Eugene Onegin broadcast that Sid and I can't stop yapping about.

I basically agree with everything Sid said. Except I sort of like the awkward backstage stuff. It's kind of fun.

I'm especially in love with Patricia Racette's voice. Her diction was fantastic, and her sound so beautiful. Anthony Dean Griffey as Grimes was beyond perfect. His final mad scene was heart-wrenching, horrifying, and even endearing, if you can believe it. You knew, at the end of it, that he wasn't going to pull through, but you really wanted him to.

You know what moved me to tears, though? The curtain call! There was this tremendous sense of togetherness and love-for-this-work radiating from the cast and creative team that was overpowering. It was like they knew they had put together something special, and were so full of love for it. It was great. Greater than great, really.

Clip of the Day: Jon Vickers as Peter Grimes

So, I just learned that Jon Vickers was the Peter Grimes for the first Met production in 1967. AND, he's Canadian...how cool is that? Sid and I have a dream/goal of moving to Canada. I think this is a sign.

Sid is right. I do love Benjamin Britten, and I TOTALLY disagree with him. I think Britten's music is very easy on the ears! I'll play something from A Midsummer Night's Dream later this week, and you'll see what I mean. Obviously, it doesn't sound like Mozart, but it's a really accessible and beautiful musical language that makes sense to after about 10 minutes of listening. Give it a chance! Also, it's kind of spooky and creepy. Case in point? This little ditty from Peter Grimes (with the late Jon Vickers). Enjoy!



Edit: This production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie!

Clip of the Day: Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten

In preparation for the upcoming Met HD Broadcast of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes (I'm pretty excited), I'll be posting some YouTube clips of interest.

Today's video features a vintage clip of of Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten collaborating on a bit of Schubert ("Mein" from the beloved song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin). Britten and Pears were long-time collaborators and partners in life. Pears, in fact, was the first Peter Grimes (and the first of many of Britten's opera's protagonists).



I'm pretty sure those are cheat-sheets in Sir Peter's hand...pretty funny! Anyway, get your tickets for Peter Grimes. It is this coming Saturday, March 15, at 1:30 PM EST.