Peter Grimes

SEB presents

Opera by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Montagu Slater after George Crabbe’s poem “The Borough”
Estonian premiere in the Estonian National Opera on September 26, 2025
World premiere in Sadler’s Wells on June 7, 1945

Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Conductor: Kaspar Mänd
Stage Director and Set Designer: José Cura (Argentina)
Costume Designer and Assistant to the Stage Director: Silvia Collazuol (Italy)
Lighting Designers: José Cura, Rasmus Rembel
Coproduction with Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse.

José Cura, the renowned Argentine tenor, composer, conductor, and stage director, is bringing his visionary talents to the Estonian National Opera with the highly anticipated Estonian premiere of “Peter Grimes”, Benjamin Britten’s psychological thriller. This powerful opera is considered one of the cornerstones of 20th-century English music theatre, showcasing Britten’s genius in exploring the depths of human emotion and societal conflict.

Set in a small coastal village, “Peter Grimes” tells the harrowing story of the eponymous fisherman, Peter Grimes, who faces social alienation and suspicion after being acquitted of murdering his apprentice. Despite the court’s judgment, the tight-knit community remains distrustful and accusatory, subjecting him to relentless gossip, fear, and prejudice. The opera’s central themes of isolation, judgment, and the destructive power of societal intolerance are set against the raw, often treacherous backdrop of the sea, a motif that Britten uses to symbolically represent both the external forces acting on Grimes and his own inner turmoil.

Britten’s opera, which was first performed in 1945, is not just a compelling narrative but also a masterclass in musical expression. The score is deeply emotional, with intense moments that portray the psychological and physical forces at play, capturing the menace of the sea, the inner torment of Grimes, and the simmering tension in the community. “Peter Grimes” is often regarded as Britten’s most significant work, and through it, he cemented his place as one of the greatest opera composers of the 20th century.

In this production, Cura will once more collaborate with his long-time associate, the Italian costume designer and stage designer Silvia Collazuol. Together, they will bring Britten’s starkly dramatic world to life, blending emotional intensity with the vivid expression of Grimes’s tragic story. The production promises to be a powerful exploration of the human condition, showcasing the haunting beauty and emotional depth of Britten’s iconic opera.

Cast:

Peter Grimes, fisherman: Timothy Richards, Mati Turi
Ellen Orford, widow, schoolmistress of the Borough: Charlotte Anne Shipley, Layla Claire, Kadri Kõrvek
Kapten Balstrode, retired merchant skipper: Paul Carey Jones, Tamar Nugis 
Auntie, landlady of the Boar Inn: Juuli Lill, Aule Urb
Proua Sedley, a rentier widow: Helen Lokuta, Karis Trass, Tuuri Dede
First “niece”: Kristel Pärtna, Kadri Nirgi
Second “niece”: Janne Ševtšenko, Kadri Kõrvek
Swallow, lawyer: Raiko Raalik. Priit Volmer
Ned Keene, apothecary and quack: René Soom. Pavlo Balakin
Hobson, carrier: Mart Laur, Dragos Andrei, Ionel
Bob Boles, fisherman and Methodist: Mart Madiste, Rafael Dicenta
Rev Horace Adams, rector: Reigo Tamm, Heldur Harry Põlda