Details

The story centres around a king, compelled to choose between love and political hard-headedness. His decisions allow his country to slide into civil war, and set his own wife and son against him. When his son in turn is given bruising lessons in realpolitik, he performs - albeit with the object of restoring peace - a terrifying act of violence in front of his mother. World Premiere

Cast/Performers

Stephane Degout (baritone), Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Peter Hoare (tenor), Gyula Orendt (baritone), Samuel Boden (tenor), Jennifer France (soprano), Andri Bjorn Robertsson (bass-baritone), Krisztina Szabo (mezzo-soprano)

Creatives/Company

Music: George Benjamin
Lyrics: Martin Crimp
Producer(s): Royal Opera House, Dutch National Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Opera de Lyon, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Teatro Real Madrid