THE WORLD'S FINEST OPERA,
BALLET, THEATRE AND MUSIC
Benjamin: Written on Skin
Christopher Purves (The Protector); Barbara Hannigan (Agnès); Bejun Mehta (Angel 1/The Boy); Victoria Simmonds (Angel 2/Marie); Allan Clayton (Angel 3/John); David Alexander (Angel Archivist); Sarah Northgraves (Angel Archivist); Laura Harling (Angel Archivist); Peter Hobday (Angel Archivist)
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. Filmed in High Definition 25p and recorded in true Surround Sound.
DVD
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/01/2014
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 & DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP
Catalogue Number: OA1125D
BLU-RAY
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/01/2014
Sound Formats:
Ratio: 16:9
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP
Catalogue Number: OABD7136D
Conductor(s):
George Benjamin
George Benjamin
Orchestra(s):
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Artist(s):
Christopher Purves; Barbara Hannigan; Bejun Mehta; Victoria Simmonds; Allan Clayton; David Alexander; Sarah Northgraves; Laura Harling; Peter Hobday; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin
Christopher Purves; Barbara Hannigan; Bejun Mehta; Victoria Simmonds; Allan Clayton; David Alexander; Sarah Northgraves; Laura Harling; Peter Hobday; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin
"Magic and irresistible ... It is the best opera written over the last twenty years." (Le Monde)
"Written on Skin is close to being a masterpiece." (Le Figaro)
"Would the opera work so well without a Protector as adept at portraying cruel, complex characters as baritone Christopher Purves, or a soprano combining fierce presence with such pure tone as Barbara Hannigan, or a countertenor Boy sounding as beguiling and other-worldly as Bejun Mehta? Perhaps not quite. But it would still be a musical masterpiece." (The Guardian)
"This is music of genius. It also draws superb performances from a flawless cast: Christopher Purves (the castellan), Barbara Hannigan (his wife), Bejun Mehta (the artist), and Allan Clayton and Victoria Simmonds as the choric angels, who seem to instigate as well as observe the action.
Benjamin’s conducting of his own music was literally authoritative, and the orchestral playing was ravishing. After a long run of mediocrity at the Royal Opera, what joy to encounter something as enthralling and enchanting as this." (The Daily Telegraph)
"Winner of the Contemporary Award - Gramophone Awards 2014
Hailed as a 'triumph' at its premiere in Aix-en-Provence in 2012, 'Written on Skin' has quickly established itself as one of the essential 21st-century operas." (Gramophone)
"Written on Skin is close to being a masterpiece." (Le Figaro)
"Would the opera work so well without a Protector as adept at portraying cruel, complex characters as baritone Christopher Purves, or a soprano combining fierce presence with such pure tone as Barbara Hannigan, or a countertenor Boy sounding as beguiling and other-worldly as Bejun Mehta? Perhaps not quite. But it would still be a musical masterpiece." (The Guardian)
"This is music of genius. It also draws superb performances from a flawless cast: Christopher Purves (the castellan), Barbara Hannigan (his wife), Bejun Mehta (the artist), and Allan Clayton and Victoria Simmonds as the choric angels, who seem to instigate as well as observe the action.
Benjamin’s conducting of his own music was literally authoritative, and the orchestral playing was ravishing. After a long run of mediocrity at the Royal Opera, what joy to encounter something as enthralling and enchanting as this." (The Daily Telegraph)
"Winner of the Contemporary Award - Gramophone Awards 2014
Hailed as a 'triumph' at its premiere in Aix-en-Provence in 2012, 'Written on Skin' has quickly established itself as one of the essential 21st-century operas." (Gramophone)
Christopher Purves (The Protector); Barbara Hannigan (Agnès); Bejun Mehta (Angel 1/The Boy); Victoria Simmonds (Angel 2/Marie); Allan Clayton (Angel 3/John); David Alexander (Angel Archivist); Sarah Northgraves (Angel Archivist); Laura Harling (Angel Archivist); Peter Hobday (Angel Archivist)
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. Filmed in High Definition 25p and recorded in true Surround Sound.
DVD
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/01/2014
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 & DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP
Catalogue Number: OA1125D
BLU-RAY
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/01/2014
Sound Formats:
Ratio: 16:9
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP
Catalogue Number: OABD7136D
Conductor(s):
George Benjamin
George Benjamin
Orchestra(s):
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Artist(s):
Christopher Purves; Barbara Hannigan; Bejun Mehta; Victoria Simmonds; Allan Clayton; David Alexander; Sarah Northgraves; Laura Harling; Peter Hobday; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin
Christopher Purves; Barbara Hannigan; Bejun Mehta; Victoria Simmonds; Allan Clayton; David Alexander; Sarah Northgraves; Laura Harling; Peter Hobday; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin
"Magic and irresistible ... It is the best opera written over the last twenty years." (Le Monde)
"Written on Skin is close to being a masterpiece." (Le Figaro)
"Would the opera work so well without a Protector as adept at portraying cruel, complex characters as baritone Christopher Purves, or a soprano combining fierce presence with such pure tone as Barbara Hannigan, or a countertenor Boy sounding as beguiling and other-worldly as Bejun Mehta? Perhaps not quite. But it would still be a musical masterpiece." (The Guardian)
"This is music of genius. It also draws superb performances from a flawless cast: Christopher Purves (the castellan), Barbara Hannigan (his wife), Bejun Mehta (the artist), and Allan Clayton and Victoria Simmonds as the choric angels, who seem to instigate as well as observe the action.
Benjamin’s conducting of his own music was literally authoritative, and the orchestral playing was ravishing. After a long run of mediocrity at the Royal Opera, what joy to encounter something as enthralling and enchanting as this." (The Daily Telegraph)
"Winner of the Contemporary Award - Gramophone Awards 2014
Hailed as a 'triumph' at its premiere in Aix-en-Provence in 2012, 'Written on Skin' has quickly established itself as one of the essential 21st-century operas." (Gramophone)
"Written on Skin is close to being a masterpiece." (Le Figaro)
"Would the opera work so well without a Protector as adept at portraying cruel, complex characters as baritone Christopher Purves, or a soprano combining fierce presence with such pure tone as Barbara Hannigan, or a countertenor Boy sounding as beguiling and other-worldly as Bejun Mehta? Perhaps not quite. But it would still be a musical masterpiece." (The Guardian)
"This is music of genius. It also draws superb performances from a flawless cast: Christopher Purves (the castellan), Barbara Hannigan (his wife), Bejun Mehta (the artist), and Allan Clayton and Victoria Simmonds as the choric angels, who seem to instigate as well as observe the action.
Benjamin’s conducting of his own music was literally authoritative, and the orchestral playing was ravishing. After a long run of mediocrity at the Royal Opera, what joy to encounter something as enthralling and enchanting as this." (The Daily Telegraph)
"Winner of the Contemporary Award - Gramophone Awards 2014
Hailed as a 'triumph' at its premiere in Aix-en-Provence in 2012, 'Written on Skin' has quickly established itself as one of the essential 21st-century operas." (Gramophone)
