The Israeli Opera presents Peter Grimes, one of the most influential and acclaimed works in the 20th-century operatic repertoire, by British composer Benjamin Britten. The new production is the result of a collaboration with the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, where it premiered in 2023. The production now comes to Israel under the direction of renowned Polish director Mariusz Treliński and conducted by Alexander Joel. The Polish Institute in Tel Aviv is pleased to support this joint production, which brings together the Israeli opera scene and Poland’s vibrant artistic world.

First performed in London in 1945, Peter Grimes is considered one of Britten’s most important operas and a landmark in the development of modern British opera. Based on the poem The Borough by George Crabbe, the work offers a complex portrait of a small, close-knit community in which fears, rumours and prejudice can turn an individual into an outsider and an outcast.

Set in an English fishing village, the opera follows Peter Grimes, a lonely and withdrawn fisherman suspected by the local community of being responsible for the death of his young apprentice. Although the inquest rules the death an accident, suspicions persist and social pressure continues to mount. As the community turns against him, Grimes struggles to find his place within it. Through his personal story, the opera unfolds as a gripping psychological drama exploring loneliness, alienation, prejudice and the destructive power of public opinion.

Treliński’s production offers a visually striking and intense interpretation of the story. The set combines a fishing boat and piers with video projections of ocean waves, creating a dramatic space that shifts between reality and imagination and highlights the tension between the individual and his surroundings. The set design is by Boris Kudlička, Treliński’s longtime artistic collaborator, with whom he has created numerous opera productions over the years.

The cast features Israeli and international soloists, accompanied by the Israeli Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The opera is performed in English, with Hebrew and English surtitles.

The production brings to Israel an artistic collaboration between two leading opera houses in Poland and Israel, combining the work of one of the 20th century’s most important composers with the distinctive theatrical vision of one of Poland’s leading opera directors.

Performances begin Friday, November 20, 2026.

For more information and tickets, visit the Israeli Opera website.

Special offer for Friends of the Polish Institute: Use the coupon code GRIMES20PL when booking to receive a special discount!