Peter Grimes relations with his apprentice to be bordering on paederastic, Pears persuaded Slater to cut the questionable stanzas from the final version. The opera was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundations and is "dedicated to the memory of Natalie Koussevitzky", wife of the Russian-born American conductor Serge Koussevitzky. When Joan Cross, who was then manager of the Sadler's Wells company, announced her intention to re-open Sadler's Wells Theatre with "Peter Grimes" with herself and Peter Pears in the leading roles, there were many complaints from company members about supposed favouritism and the "" of Britten's score. Yet when "Peter Grimes" opened
Gassaway Sellman Grimes Gassaway Sellman Grimes Gassaway Sellman Grimes (November 16, 1816 – July 3, 1875) was a physician who practiced in Maryland for several years. Dr. G. S. Grimes was born on November 16, 1816 in Maryland to Cornelius Grimes, who served in the War of 1812, and Elizabeth Sellman. He attended the old Barnesville Academy. Grimes graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1838. Grimes married Susan H. Dorsey on June 25, 1839 in Frederick County, Maryland, a descendant of Edward Dorsey. By 1840 he moved to Carroll County, Maryland. Grimes was once part of a convention in