Peter Grimes at Estonian National Opera
Tallinn, Estonian National Opera — Theatre Hall
About the Event
Delve into the mesmerizing architecture of Tallinn's magnificent Estonian National Opera for an unforgettable concert experience that will deepen your appreciation for opera.
“Peter Grimes” is considered one of the cornerstones of 20th‐century English music theatre and showcases Britten’s brilliant ability to explore the depths of human emotion and societal conflict. In the psychological thriller “Peter Grimes,” Britten gives a voice to a man who does not fit into a community that has no tolerance for differences. Who is Peter Grimes? A murderer? A hapless victim of a small community’s prejudice and the all‐powerful sea? A poet?
In a close‐knit coastal community, fisherman Peter Grimes is acquitted of murdering his young apprentice. But although the court has pronounced him innocent, the local inhabitants continue to judge him. With only the local teacher Ellen Orford by his side, Peter Grimes finds himself haunted by rumours and suspicion, struggling with inner demons and the enmity of the local community.
The opera’s music paints hauntingly vivid images of the sea’s power, human emotion, love, and fear.
Program
- Benjamin Britten – Peter Grimes
Cast / Production
Stage Director: Stephen Barlow (Australia)
Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Designer: Yannis Thavoris (England)
Lighting Designer: Jake Wiltshire (England)
Chief Chorus Master: Heli Jürgenson
Estonian National Opera
The Estonian National Opera company, established in 1870, presents a wide range of operas, operettas, ballets, and musicals. The opera house itself was constructed in 1913 as the initiative of the 'Estonia' song and drama society. At the time, this Art Nouveau structure was the largest in Tallinn. During the Second World War, the theater was destroyed. Restored in the 1950s under Soviet rule, the architects kept the original facade, but the rest of the building combines Neoclassical and Stalinist elements.
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was an Italian opera composer of the late 19th century. He was considered one of the greatest composers of the Italian Opera, second only to Verdi. His early works were characterised by features of the traditional 19th century romantic Italian opera. Later, his style developed into the realistic verismo style, which inspired him to write his most famous masterpieces and became one of the leading exponents of the style. His most renowned works La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924), all are popular operas played in the most prestigious venues of the classical world.
Address
Estonian National Opera, Estonian Avenue 4, Tallinn, Estonia — Google Maps
