Peter Grimes

‘The burly Aussie tenor is now even more identified with this ill-fated protagonist than Peter Pears, the first Grimes. And everywhere Skelton has sung the part, whether at English National Opera, the Proms, the Edinburgh festival or now on this international tour of a concert staging mounted by the Bergen Philharmonic, the conductor has been Edward Gardner. Theirs is one of the great musical partnerships, and they continue to find compelling new depths in this tragic masterpiece.’ – Richard Morrison – The Times

This studio recording was made following the acclaimed production at Grieghallen, in Bergen, in 2019 (repeated in Oslo and London and reviewed above). Luxuriant playing from the Bergen Philharmonic and a stellar cast under the assured direction of Edward Gardner make this a recording to treasure.

Composer
Benjamin Britten
Solo tenor • Peter Grimes, a fisherman
Stuart Skelton
Solo Boy (John), his apprentice
Samuel Winter
Solo soprano • Ellen Orford, a widow
Erin Wall
Solo baritone • Captain Balstrode
Roderick Williams
Solo mezzo-soprano • Auntie, landlady of 'The Boar'
Susan Bickley
Solo soprano • Niece 1
Hanna Husáhr
Solo soprano • Niece 2
Vibeke Kristensen
Solo tenor • Bob Boles
Robert Murray
Solo bass-baritone • Swallow, a lawyer
Neal Davies
Solo mezzo-soprano • Mrs Sedley
Catherine Wyn-Rogers
Solo tenor • Reverend Horace Adams, the Rector
James Gilchrist
Solo baritone • Ned Keene
Marcus Farnsworth
Solo bass • Hobson
Barnaby Rea
Solo Dr Crabbe
Silent Role
Solo bass • First Fisherman
Francis Brett
Solo bass • Second Fisherman
David Hansford
Solo tenor • A Lawyer
Vernon Kirk
Solo mezzo-soprano • A Fisherwoman
Catherine Backhouse
Solo bass • First Burgess
James Berry
Solo baritone • Second Burgess
Peter Brooks
Solo tenor • Third Burgess
Andrew Masterson
Solo bass • Fourth Burgess
George Butler
Solo tenor • Fifth Burgess
Samuel Knock
Solo baritone • Sixth Burgess
James Holt
Solo soprano • Choral Soprano
Catrin Woodruff-Abel
Choral
Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Choral
Edvard Grieg Kor
Choral
Royal Northern College of Music Chorus
Choral
Choir of Collegium Musicum
Orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor
Edward Gardner