Benjamin Britten coast close to Britten's homeland, awakened in him such longings for England that he knew he must return. He also knew that he must write an opera based on Crabbe's poem about the fisherman Peter Grimes. Before Britten left the US, Koussevitzky, always generous in encouraging new talent, offered him a $1,000 commission to write the opera. Britten and Pears returned to England in April 1942. During the long transatlantic sea crossing Britten completed the choral works "A Ceremony of Carols" and "Hymn to St Cecilia". The latter was his last large-scale collaboration with Auden. Britten had grown away from
Victorian Opera (Melbourne) an operatic ghost story by Benjamin Britten. The Baroque opera "Julius Caesar" by Handel, presented at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, 20–30 July, conducted by Richard Gill and directed by former Australian Ballet principal Stephen Heathcote. Two world premieres by the Victorian Youth Opera. Firstly, "The Parrot Factory" a newly commissioned work by Frederick and Mary Davidson, performed at the CUB Malthouse Merlyn Theatre 1–5 October. Secondly, "The Cockatoos" by Sarah de Jong and Sarah Carradine presented at the New Ballroom, Trades Hall, 10–12 December. The 2012 season was Richard Gill's final season as Artistic Director, and concluded