San Diego Opera presents Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes as the fourth opera of its 44th International Season. The English opera will run through Sunday, April 26, at the Civic Theatre in Downtown San Diego.

Peter Grimes marks the return of American tenor Anthony Dean Griffey in the title role, a role he recently performed to critical and popular acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera. Last seen in San Diego in 1985, Britten’s masterpiece of English opera also marks the return of American soprano Jennifer Casey Cabot as Ellen Orford, American baritone Rod Gilfry as Captain Balstrode, American mezzo-soprano Judith Christin as Auntie and American bass-baritone John Del Carlo as Swallow.

Making company debuts are American mezzo-soprano Janice Meyerson as Nabob Sedley, American tenor Greg Fedderley as Bob Boles and American bass-baritone Kristopher Irmiter as Ned Keene. Also returning to San Diego Opera is American soprano Priya Palekar as the first niece, soprano Priti Gandhi as the second niece, American tenor Joseph Frank as Rev. Horace Adams and Australian bass-baritone Andrew Collis as Hobson. American actor Spike Sommers plays the silent role of the Apprentice.

British conductor Steuart Bedford, a longtime associate and friend of composer Benjamin Britten returns to San Diego to conduct these performances and British stage director John Copley, who began his career in 1949 as the apprentice in the first Covent Garden production of Peter Grimes, will stage the opera.

Performed in English with English text above the stage, Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes is a shocking look at the herd mentality of an isolated fishing village and follows the story of the titular fisherman whose young apprentice dies while at sea. Upon his return, the village holds an inquest into the cause of death, and although Peter is found innocent, the villagers still blame him for the boy’s demise. Despite the suggestion that Peter find an older apprentice, he cannot afford one, so the schoolmistress, Ellen Orford, finds another young apprentice for Peter. When the new apprentice is later found to have a bruise on his neck, Ellen confronts Peter, who takes the boy to his cabin. The villagers head to Peter’s cabin and, hearing the angry mob approach, Peter and his apprentice attempt to escape along the cliffs with tragic consequences. With music inspired by the ocean, the orchestral music of Peter Grimes is so inventive and beautiful it is often performed by symphonies, and the singing includes such wonderful arias as “Now the Great Bear” and “Embroidery in childhood.”

Peter Grimes was last performed by San Diego Opera in 1985. The sets are owned by the Lyric Opera of Chicago and designed by Carl Toms. Costumes are from the Metropolitan Opera and designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch.

Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes

Produced by San Diego Opera

When: Friday, April 24, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m.

Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown

Tickets: $35-$200

Phone: 619-533-7000

Online: sdopera.com