Benjamin: Written on Skin / Lessons in Love and Violence (2-DVD) – Barbara Hannigan

Composer: George Benjamin
Artists: Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Victoria Simmunds, Allan Clayton, Stéphan Degout, Gyula Orendt, Peter Hoare, Samuel Boden, Ocean Barrington-Cook, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: George Benjamin
Director: Katie Mitchell
Format: NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, German, Japanese (both titles); additionally, Korean (Lessons)
Region: All Regions
Number of Discs: 2
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
DVD Release Date: January 24, 2020
Run Time: 191 minutes

This collection consists of George Benjamin and Martin Crimp’s two award-winning full-length operas, in visually stunning productions by critically acclaimed director Katie Mitchell. Written on Skin has been hailed as “magic and irresistible…the best opera written over the last twenty years” (Le Monde). It tells the story of a cruel and powerful Protector who asks a mysterious Boy to create an illuminated book to celebrate his wealth and family. He invites the Boy into his home, little realizing that this will lead to a journey of startling, joyful and ultimately tragic self-discovery for his oppressed and much younger wife Agnès.

Drawing on the real-life relationship between Edward II and Piers Gaveston, Lessons in Love and Violence explores how personal relationships can have fatal political consequences. The King lives in a close but uneasy relationship with his wife Isabel, their two children and his lover Gaveston. When the King banishes his military advisor Mortimer, he sets off a chain of devastating events.

The composer conducts two superb international casts, including soprano Barbara Hannigan, who appears in the leading roles of Agnès and Isabel.

Read More