Peter Grimes: "Now the Great Bear" (Jon Vickers)

Benjamin Britten: Peter Grimes - "Now the Great Bear"
Jon Vickers (tenor) as Peter
Heather Harper, soprano
(Peter)
Now the great Bear and Pleiades
where earth moves
Are drawing up the clouds
of human grief
Breathing solemnity in the deep night.
Who can decipher
In storm or starlight
The written character
of a friendly fate
As the sky turns, the world for us to change?
But if the horoscope's
bewildering
Like a flashing turmoil
of a shoal of herring,
Who can turn skies back and begin again?
(Silence again. Then muttering in undertones.)
(Chorus)
Hes mad or drunk.
Why's that man here?
(Nieces)
His song alone would sour the beer.
(Chorus)
His tempers up.
O chuck him out.
(Nieces)
I wouldnt mind if he didnt howl.
(Chorus)
He looks as though hes nearly drowned.
(Boles) (staggers up to Grimes)
Youve sold your soul, Grimes.
(Balstrode)
Come away.
(Boles)
Satans got no hold on me.
(Balstrode)
Leave him alone, you drunkard.
(Goes to get hold of Boles.)
(Boles)
Ill hold the gospel light before
The cataract that blinds his eyes.
(Peter) (as the drunk stumbles up to him)
Get out.
(Grimes thrusts Boles aside roughly and turns away.)
(Boles)
His exercise
Is not with men but killing boys.
(Boles picks up a bottle and is about to bring it down on Grimess head when Balstrode
knocks it out of his hand and it crashes in fragments on the floor.)
(Auntie)
For Gods sake, help me keep the peace.
Dyou want me up at the next Assize?
(Balstrode)
For peace sake, someone start a song.

[@sgnmath1234]

What an extraordinary use of falsetto/head voice and chest voice all basically on one note!

[@DrMarianus]

This is one of the all-time great arias, and the interpretation of Vickers leaves one in awe. He conveys the longing of everyman and the lyrics are beautifully adapted to his voice. Hat's off also to Colin Davis and the orchestra.

[@1deangordon]

Having had the privilege of working with Mr. Vickers on this opera (about 1981), I doubt that he was terribly bothered by Mr. Britten's opinion. He was a singer VERY sure of himself. And his interpretation of Peter's descent was absolutely haunting and gripping.

[@pmcberton8242]

beautiful... this aria has an element of something cosmic within it

[@sephrider]

This moves me in a tremendous way, a perfect marriage between Brittens sublime tonal language and one of the greatest tenors of all time. Granted vickers wasn`t the best in everything he did, but in this there really is no comparison. I like many, also love Heppner and Pears`s renditions, but this is as good as it possibly can be.

[@alcoyot]

Wow.

[@msholmes]

Yes, this was such an legendary interpretation.

[@TheRunner75]

Scott Walker, in his singing is clearly aping Jon Wickers. This opera is interesting. Needs to be deepen.

[@Mackeson3]

Apparently Britten totally hated Vickers in this role, in fact he walked out of the Performance!