Peter Grimes: Final Scene

[Miken9000]

One of the most powerful final scenes of any opera.

[lemsip]

I heard this as the music soundtrack on Vasco Araujo's film about marginalisation at the Artes Mundi exhibition in 2008. It showed vicars talking about marginalisation shot with scenes of Gateshead in between and the backs of red brick houses.  I could smell the carbolic acid as they reminded me of almshouses.

[aswallom]

To me this finale sums up my personal interpretation of Peter Grimes: Just as the sea is both beautiful and terrifying, both nurturing and mercilessly, almost casually cruel, so are human beings, both individually and as a group. Although we lament the cruelty that others (and ourselves) commit, to an extent that is part of the human condition and trying to resist that will either change nothing or make things worse. This music is a eulogy full of resignation and, perhaps, acceptance.

[leedshunk]

i visited britten's grave at aldbrough , where this piece was set - amazing

[JeeRant]

My FAVORITE part of the opera! So haunting. Thank you.