Peter Grimes or ambiguous the various characters are. Pears was certainly the intended Peter Grimes, and it is likely that Britten wrote the role of Ellen Orford for Joan Cross. The work has been called "a powerful allegory of homosexual oppression", and one of "the true operatic masterpieces of the 20th century", but the composer's own contemporary (1948) summation of the work was simpler: a subject very close to my heart — the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual. Though as the writing of the libretto progressed, certain versions showed Grimes'
Phil Grimes Phil Grimes Phillip "Philly" Grimes (8 May 1929 – 8 May 1989) was an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Waterford senior team. Born in Waterford, Grimes first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Mount Sion CBS. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of 17 when he first linked up with the Waterford minor team. He joined the senior team during the 1947-48 league. Grimes immediately became a regular member of the starting 15, and won two All-Ireland medals, three Munster medals and one National Hurling League medal on the field of play.