Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes tells the story of a fisherman who is suspected of murdering his apprentice. Although he is proven innocent in court, he remains an outcast within his community. The music reflects the turmoil between Grimes and the townspeople through close dissonances that are punctuated by intense chords that feature the entire orchestra. This is most prevalent in the Sea Interludes of the opera, the themes of which are recapitulated in the finale.
Got any favorite operas?