After a VERY busy week in Portugal in my parents’ old house which we have decided to renovate, it is difficult to leave the whole family even for a few days, but some great consolation is that I am now in Geneva with my friends of Gli Angeli Genève. Tonight we will be performing an amazing piece that we recorded a year or so ago, Josquin’s “Missa Malheur Me Bat”. This deep and moving piece couldn’t be in starker contrast to the 2 toddlers, dog, smattering of other kids and over-worked adults that I have left behind, and despite the...
A performance of “Que ce séjour est agréable”, an extract from Rameau’s Platée, ahead of the production run at Garsington Opera this summer. Accompanied by Christopher Bucknall. Platée @ Garsington Opera from 29 May – 30 June 2024: https://garsingtonopera.org/whats-on/…
“Take home these two operatic masterpieces, written by an award winning team: George Benjamin (music and conductor), Martin Crimp (text), and Katie Mitchell (director). Written on Skin – A ‘magic and irresistible’ opera, telling the story of a boy asked to create a book to celebrate the life of a powerful Protector. Lessons in Love and Violence – Inspired by the life of Edward II and Piers Gaveston, this opera explores how personal relationships can have fatal political consequences.” DVD and Blu-ray copies now available!
George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Opera Recording. I would like to congratulate my LILAV colleagues on the nomination and wish them all the best of luck for the results at the Award Ceremony next week (Monday 27th January)!
“Well known haute-contre tenor Samuel Boden gives us a lesson in phrasing, with the usual elegance ..”Forum Opera, 21 November 2019
George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence has been nominated for an Olivier Award in the category Best New Opera Production. This darkly dramatic new opera was a major event in contemporary music – the latest collaboration between composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp. Conducted by Benjamin, the world premiere of Lessons in Love and Violence took place at the Royal Opera House in May 2018 and starred an internationally renowned cast including baritone Stéphane Degout as King Edward II, soprano Barbara Hannigan as Queen Isabel, baritone Gyula Orendt as Gaveston, tenor Peter Hoare as Mortimer and Samuel Boden as Boy / Young...
