Benjamin: Written On Skin (DVD) – The Royal Opera

Composer: George Benjamin
Artists: Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Victoria Simmonds, Allan Clayton, Royal Opera House Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor: George Benjamin
Director: Katie Mitchell
Format: NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, German, Japanese, Korean
Number of Discs: 1
Region: All Regions
Studio: BBC/Opus
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Running Time: 100 minutes

With a score by George Benjamin and text by Martin Crimp, Written on Skin has been hailed as “magic and irresistible…the best opera written over the last twenty years” (Le Monde). A cruel and powerful Protector (Christopher Purves) asks a mysterious Boy (Bejun Mehta) to create an illuminated book in honour of 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 the Protector’s oppressed and much younger wife Agnès (Barbara Hannigan).

Acclaimed director Katie Mitchell brings this dark and intense story to life in an inventive production that skilfully combines elements of the past and present, with Benjamin himself conducting. Recorded live from the Royal Opera House in March 2013, in High Definition and true Surround Sound.

When Written on Skin had its premiere at the 2012 Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, conducted by George Benjamin himself, it received a standing ovation. The opera’s arrival at Covent Garden in 2013 was eagerly anticipated and provides audiences with the opportunity to experience the work of two of Britain’s greatest living artists. Benjamin previously collaborated with playwright Martin Crimp on Into the Little Hill, a magical retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale, and for this new work they join forces with director Katie Mitchell. For all three, the production marks their main-stage debut at the Royal Opera House.

‘‘…sensual, evocative, gloriously singable’’ – The Financial Times

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