Benjamin : Written on Skin. Purves, Hannigan

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. Press Reviews "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) Awards Gramophone Award {2014} (Contemporary) International Opera Award (UK) {2013} World premiere Opernwelt Premiere of the Year {2013} Best new work Grand Prix Du Syndicat de la critique {2013} Opera Opéra Magazine La Diamant d opera {2013} Opera BASCA Award {2013} Stage Category New York Times Favorite Classical record of the Year 2013 South Bank Sky Arts Award {2014} Opera Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik {2014} - DVD Choc de Classica {2014} - DVD Royal Philharmonic Society s Large-Scale Composition {2014} Opera Cast 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, LAURA HARLING, PETER HOBDAY, SARAH NORTHGRAVES (Angel Archivists) Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin Stage Director: Katie Mitchell Television Director: Margaret Williams Catalogue Number: OA1125D Date of Performance: 2013 Running Time: 89 minutes Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP Label: Opus Arte