18 Facts About Peter Grimes

Peter Grimes said later, "In a flash I realised two things: that I must write an opera, and where I belonged".

The Peter Grimes of Crabbe's poem is an outright bully, "untouched by pity, unstung by remorse and uncorrected by shame".

The story, and Peter Grimes's character, underwent substantial changes in the early stages of drafting.

Pears persuaded Britten to play down any emotional tie Peter Grimes might feel to the apprentice, and play up his position as an outsider in an intolerant society.

At first, Britten had Peter Grimes murdering his apprentices rather than being at worst negligent.

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Peter Grimes abandoned Crabbe's rhyming couplets and allowed his text "to reflect the diverse speech-rhythms of the individual Borough characters":.

Yet when Peter Grimes opened it was hailed by public and critics; its box-office takings matched or exceeded those for La boheme and Madame Butterfly, which were being staged concurrently by the company.

Peter Grimes was played by, respectively, Ronald Dowd, Philip Langridge and Stuart Skelton; the conductors were Charles Mackerras, David Atherton and Edward Gardner.

Peter Grimes was staged at the Royal Opera House in 1947, in a production by Guthrie, conducted by Karl Rankl, with Pears, Cross and Edith Coates reprising their roles from the Sadler's Wells premiere.

In revivals of the earlier productions, Peter Grimes was played by tenors including Richard Lewis, Richard Cassilly, Robert Tear, Langridge, and Anthony Rolfe Johnson.

Peter Grimes is questioned at an inquest over the death at sea of his apprentice.

Peter Grimes calls for help to haul his boat ashore, but is shunned by most of the community.

Peter Grimes stays out, and alone with Balstrode confesses his ambitions: to make his fortune with a "good catch", buy a good home and marry Ellen Orford.

Peter Grimes becomes lost in his memories of his previous apprentice, reliving the boy's death of thirst.

Peter Grimes warns John to be careful climbing down the cliff to the boat.

At a town dance, Mrs Sedley tries to convince the authorities that Peter Grimes is a murderer.

Ellen and Captain Balstrode confide in each other: Peter Grimes has disappeared, and Balstrode has discovered a jersey washed ashore.

Mrs Sedley overhears this, and with the knowledge that Peter Grimes has returned, is able to whip up another vigilante mob.