Troilus and Cressida (opera) take her away, she pledges her loyalty one last time to Troilus, and stabs herself. Notes Sources Troilus and Cressida (opera) Troilus and Cressida is the first of the two operas by William Walton, and debuted in 1954. The libretto was by Christopher Hassall, his own first opera libretto, based on Geoffrey Chaucer's poem "Troilus and Criseyde". Walton dedicated the score to his wife, Susana. The genesis of the opera dated back to the mid-1940s, after the success of Benjamin Britten's first great operatic success, "Peter Grimes". Walton intended to counter this work with an opera of his own, and
Peter Grimes John. Mrs Sedley overhears this, and with the knowledge that Grimes has returned, she is able to instigate another mob. Singing "Him who despises us we'll destroy", the villagers go off in search of Grimes. The sixth interlude, not included in the Sea Interludes, covers the change of scene. While the chorus can be heard searching for him, Grimes appears onstage, singing a long monologue sparsely accompanied by cries from the off-stage chorus, and a fog horn (represented by a solo tuba): John's death has seemingly shattered Grimes's sanity. Ellen and Balstrode find him, and the old captain encourages Grimes