Peter Grimes [DVD] [2001] [NTSC]

I am a fan of Britten's operas. They are good theatre. (In the case of 'Owen Wingrave' they are also good television.)

Here, with Elijah Moshinsky's 1980s production of 'Peter Grimes' there's a problem.
I remember seeing it on stage at the Royal Opera House, roughly at the time when this recording was made. It was superb. Everyone said so. Jon Vickers was the definitive Grimes, eclipsing Peter Pears and all imitators.

Seeing the opera now on dvd has made me slightly alter my opinion. For me, this is no longer the greatest production in the world - and frankly I got fed up with Jon Vickers striding around in the way that only opera singers can move on stage. I lost interest in him and his character's plight. I was more interested in his lively wig and very white teeth. I felt I should be weeping, but couldn't. It is all strangely detached and unaffecting.

It certainly isn't for want of effort. Colin Davis' energetic conducting is as good and theatre-conscious as always - and there are some splendid performances from the supporting roles, but ...

Some magical ingredient is missing.

Of course, there are delights: Heather Harper is magnificent as the widow, Ellen Orford: a lovely voice, perfect for the composer, and a powerful stage presence. The unaccompanied duet between her and Grimes in the prologue is beautiful listening, as is Ellen's justly famous 'Embroidery Aria'. There is also a delicious vocal ensemble for women's voices - pure 'Rosenkavalier' - and the chorus is a model of well-disciplined singing.

'Grimes' is always worth seeing, but I think there are better versions than this one for your dvd player.

If my memory serves me correctly, the production featuring Philip Langridge, set in a Borough that Stanley Spencer might have painted, is infinitely superior, giving the opera the supercharged intensity and sense of menace which it needs - and which is unfortunately lacking here.

This, for many people, is the definitive Grimes; and now that I've finally seen it I can see why. The production is fantastic (though wholly traditional - nothing wrong with that!) and the performers seem to be at the top of their game. Norman Bailey's Balstrode is every bit as admirable and decent as it should be, but the show, of course, belongs to John Vickers. Never has there been such a great combination of singer and actor. He'll have you in tears by the end. But, really, it's Britten's score that does the trick. All this goes to make up for the quality of the dvd itself, which is good, but not great. However it is your only chance to see this wonderful and (justly) legendary performance.

I knew this would be wonderful, as I previously had a CD of the same production. Peter Grimes is a masterpiece, and nobody sings the role as well as Jon Vickers - so powerful yet sensitive. Supporting cast brilliant.