The two hundred and fifty-seventh classical recording: #845 Benjamin Britten - Peter Grimes
Whereas normally the story of an opera fades away in favour of just enjoying the music, the English book of this opera means that it's easier to keep up with everything that's going on. The darky story - with the death of several young people, suicide and (mostly unshown) physical violence, the piece is dark, further enhanced by its dark music. The most telling pieces of this are the storm interludes, both representing the bad weather on the sea and the tumult that's happening in the village. It's imposing, creating a threat from its music that feels authentic to the real weather. The context really helps, but it's harshly evocative and heartrending no matter what you get from it.