© Stan Hema Written on Skin: Deutsche Oper Berlin
Berlin, Deutsche Oper Berlin — Main stage
About the Event
The Deutsche Oper Berlin presents George Benjamin's 'Written on Skin' in a production by Katie Mitchell.
Three angels look back from the present into a time in which every book was a precious object that was »written on skin«. One of the angels travels back to this era and slips into the role of a young illustrator, who has been commissioned by the violent Protector to write a book about his merits. In the Protector’s house, he encounters Agnès, his younger wife over whom he keeps a jealous watch. Agnès begins a love affair with the angel who has taken the form of the artist. The Protector discovers the two, kills the illustrator – and prepares a meal in which he serves his wife her lover’s heart.
In WRITTEN ON SKIN (2012), author Martin Crimp, composer George Benjamin and director Katie Mitchell used a text that originated from medieval sources as the basis for a sensational allegory about identity, love and the power of literature and art. The English and French press celebrated Mr Benjamin’s second opera it received the International Opera Award in 2013, as well as »Opernwelt«’s critics’ choice award as the debut performance of the 2012/13 season. We are staging the original production in Berlin for the first time.
In English with German and English surtitles
Program
- George Benjamin – Written on Skin
Cast / Production
Conductor — Marc Albrecht
Director — Katie Mitchell
Set‐design, Costume‐design — Vicki Mortimer
Light‐design — Jon Clark
Dramaturgy — Sebastian Hanusa
Protector — Daniel Okulitch
Agnès — Georgia Jarman
First Angel / The Boy — Hugh Cutting
Second Angel / Mary — Anna Werle
Third Angel / John — Chance Jonas‐O'Toole
Orchestra — Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin is the biggest opera house in the German capital, and a member of the Berlin Opera Foundation established in the early 1900s. The original building was destroyed during the Second World War, but was eventually replaced, and the new theater opened in 1961 - six weeks after construction began on the Berlin Wall. Serving West Berlin, its sober, linear design avoids anything that might distract vistiors from the performance. The repertoire of the theater focuses on the great classics such as Mozart, Verdi and Strauss, but frequently presents contemporary opera as well. The Chorus of the Deutsche Oper has been named 'Chorus of the Year' many times for its outstanding performances.
Address
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bismarckstraße 35 , Berlin, Germany — Google Maps
