Peter Grimes is considered part of the standard repertoire. In addition, the "Four Sea Interludes", consisting of the first, third, fifth and second interludes from the opera, were published separately (as Op. 33a) and are frequently performed as an orchestral suite. The fourth interlude, the Passacaglia was also published separately (as Op. 33b), and is also often performed, either together with the "Sea Interludes" or by itself. In 1941, shortly after the first performance of his opera "Paul Bunyan", Britten and his partner Peter Pears went to stay at Escondido, California. There they read the poem by Crabbe and were struck by
Peter Grimes community—after securing windows and equipment—take shelter in the pub. Grimes stays out, and alone with Balstrode confesses his ambitions: to make his fortune with a "good catch", buy a good home and marry Ellen Orford. Balstrode suggests "without your booty [Ellen] will have you now", only to provoke Grimes's furious "No, not for pity!" Balstrode abandons Grimes to the storm, as the latter ruminates "What harbour shelters peace?" The storm then breaks with a vengeance (second orchestral Interlude). In the pub, tensions are rising due both to the storm and to the fiery Methodist fisherman, Bob Boles, getting increasingly drunk