LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE | Liceu Opera Barcelona

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03/02/21

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08/02/21

A new opera by George Benjamin, interpreted by stage director Katie Mitchell

Lessons in Love and Violence is the third opera by the George Benjamin-Martin Crimp partnership. Based on medieval sources, it relates the all-consuming relationship between Edward II of England and his lover Piers Gaveston, which disrupts court life and the political well-being of the country, showing us the fatal political consequences personal attachments can have, for the King's also has a close but troubled relationship with his wife Isabel and his two children.

The lessons in composition and musical analysis which Benjamin received from Messiaen taught him the importance of rich orchestration, rhythm and colour. This highly imaginative score captures to a tee the claustrophobic, sensuous atmosphere and the intense emotions of the drama. Director Katie Mitchell offers a visually striking contemporary mise en scène, set in an ultra-modern Scandinavian castle.

With the exclusive sponsorship of:

OPERA IN TWO PARTS
Music by George Benjamin and libretto by Martin Crimp.
World premiere: 10/05/2018 at the Royal Opera House of London.
Spanish premiere.

Approximate running time 1h 30m

Artistic profile

Conductor: Josep Pons
Stage director: Katie Mitchell
Revival: Dan Ayling
Coreography: Joseph Alford
Set design and costumes: Vicki Mortimer
Lighting design: James Farncombe
Video Design: Charles Carcopino
Production: Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Real Madrid, ROH, Dutch National Opera (Amsterdam), Staatsoper Hamburg, Opéra de Lyon and Lyric Opera of Chicago
Symphony Orchestra of the Liceu Opera Barcelona

Cast

King	Stéphane Degout
Gaveston	Daniel Okulitch
Isabel	Georgia Jarman
Mortimer	Peter Hoare
Boy / Young King	Samuel Boden
Girl	Ocean Barrington-Cook
Witness 1 / Singer 1 / Woman 1	Isabella Gaudí
Witness 2 / Singer 2 / Woman 2	Gemma Coma-Alabert
Witness 3 / Madman	Toni Marsol

Debut Liceu

Debut role

Stéphane Degout

Daniel Okulitch

Georgia Jarman

Gemma Coma-Alabert

Toni Marsol

Cast change

The role of Mortimer will be performed by Peter Hoare, replacing William Burden. Hoare sang the role at the opera's premiere at the Royal Opera House in May 2018.
The roles of Witness 2 / Singer 2 and Woman 2 will be performed by Gemma Coma-Alabert who replaces Marta Fontanals-Simmons.