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
Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1978–79 to 1980–81 period at its regular venues, the company also visited Dortmund (with "Peter Grimes"), Glasgow (with "Nabucco" and "Carmen") and Buxton. At the end of the 1981-82 season, English National Opera North changed its name to Opera North and became an independent entity. Below is a list of main stage operas performed by the company during the period when it was known as English National Opera North. Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1978–79 to 1980–81 Opera North is an opera company based at The Grand Theatre, Leeds. This article covers its establishment and early years. On 10 March 1976, at