FOUR SEA INTERLUDES

I’m thrilled to present a new series of paintings inspired by Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes—a suite of orchestral pieces originally composed for the opera Peter Grimes. This body of work offers a visual interpretation of each movement: Dawn, Sunday Morning, Moonlight, and Storm.

The Sea Interludes are instrumental sections from the opera, using the sea as a central motif—both thematically and symbolically—to convey its shifting mood and atmosphere at different times of day and in varying weather conditions.

Dawn

2024

Acrylic on linen
70 x 90 cm

The first interlude, Dawn, represents the tranquil, yet industrious, morning by the sea. It depicts the early light of day, as the fishermen haul in their boat, the cries of their labor filling the air. In the background, Captain Balstrode, an emblem of experience and wisdom, watches the horizon, and the bustling yet calm village prepares for the day's work.

Sunday Morning

2025

Acrylic on canvas
90 x 70 cm

Sunday Morning evokes the peacefulness of a sunny morning in the village, some weeks after the initial scene. The calm atmosphere is portrayed through soft light, serene faces, and quiet movement. The villagers crossing the street towards the church create a gentle procession, and the soft, golden glow of the sun mingles with the tones of the church bells.

Moonlight

2025

Acrylic on canvas
90 x 70 cm

Moonlight is the third interlude, set on a quiet summer evening, with the distant sound of a polka and the murmurs of a dance at the Moot Hall. The moonlight casts its ethereal glow on the village, contrasting with the warmth and festivity within. The exterior of the Hall is bathed in soft moonlight, while figures move quietly down the staircase.

Storm

2025

Acrylic on linen
70 x 90 cm

The final interlude, Storm, brings the emotional and dramatic intensity of the sea to the forefront. The scene represents the uncertainty that surrounds the fog-shrouded village, with a thick atmosphere of danger and tension. In stark contrast to the serenity of the previous works, this piece reflects the emotional and physical turmoil, and the sense of isolation in the empty, fog-covered village.

Rada Ovcharova

Four Sea Interludes

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