Peter Grimes stands in the dock during a coroner’s inquest. Nearly all the townspeople suspect Grimes of ill-treating his young apprentice, William Spode, with the notable exceptions of the widowed schoolmistress, Ellen Orford, and Captain Balstrode. At the conclusion of the inquest the lawyer, Swallow, proclaims that the boy, whose life Grimes had previously saved during a storm, died in accidental circumstances.

Orchestral Interlude
Dawn

Scene 1
Ned Keene, the local apothecary, tells Grimes that he has found him a new apprentice, John, whom Ellen offers to look after. The townspeople are scornful of Ellen’s trust in Grimes.

Orchestral Interlude
Storm

Scene 2
Townspeople are sheltering in The Boar. Grimes arrives to collect his new apprentice. The crowd thinks that he is either drunk or mad, but he seizes the boy and goes out into the storm.

INTERVAL

Orchestral Interlude
Sunday Morning

Scene 1
Ellen sits at her knitting in the company of young John while the townsfolk make their way to church. She considers a possible future happiness with Grimes while listening to the singing of the congregation. Grimes enters, ordering the boy to help him bring in a shoal of fish. He and Ellen quarrel over John’s right to rest and this leads Ellen to draw attention to his rough, uncompromising ways, echoing the views of the town. Grimes is furious at the thought that the Borough has influenced Ellen. He strikes her and drags John away. The church service concludes.

Orchestral Interlude
Passacaglia

Scene 2
Grimes vents his anger at the townsfolk by ranting at his apprentice. The boy falls to his death while helping to pitch fishing nets from the cliff door of Grimes’s hut.

INTERVAL

Orchestral Interlude
Moonlight

Scene 1
The people of the Borough gather to discuss the apprentice’s disappearance and the mood of hatred towards Grimes gains momentum. Despite Grimes’s previous anger, Captain Balstrode and Ellen resolve to offer Grimes what help they can.

Orchestral Interlude

Scene 2
The townspeople are pursuing Grimes. He is discovered by Ellen and Balstrode who, unable to see any future for him, tell him to sail out until he loses sight of land and then sink his boat. The Borough resumes its normal life.