Grimes on the Beach comes to UK cinemas

Charlotte Smith
Thursday, August 1, 2013

Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes, performed on Aldeburgh beach in celebration of the composer’s 100th birthday during June, is to be shown in UK cinemas from Thursday September 5.

Directed by Tim Albery and starring Alan Oke in the title role, the open-air staging formed part of the 66th Aldeburgh Festival – founded by Britten and Peter Pears in 1948 – and Aldeburgh's yearlong Britten Centenary celebrations. The production - which placed both audience and cast on the beach as dusk faded over the sea - featured live, amplified singing from the cast and chorus, and pre-recorded orchestral music from the Britten-Pears Orchestra under the baton of Steuart Bedford.

The new cinematic production is directed by Margaret Williams, who recently filmed George Benjamin’s Written on Skin for the Royal Opera House. For details of cinemas screening Peter Grimes visit the Britten Centenary website.

Read Amanda Holloway's Grimes on the Beach blog and see pictures of the set in our Peter Grimes gallery.

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