Written On Skin

A must-see cutting-edge work, combining classical, medieval and modern elements, led by renowned conductor Nicole Paiement!

George Benjamin’s Written on Skin is a capti­vating, must-see work, created jointly by five of the world’s most prestigious opera companies and hailed by the New York Times as “a triumph”. Our new production, the Canadian premiere of the work, combines classical, medieval, and modern elements, under the baton of renowned conductor Nicole Paiement.

PREOPERA TALK
Some keys to better appreciate the performance, one hour before curtain time, given by musicologist Pierre Vachon. At the Piano Nobile of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at the Place des Arts, at 6:30pm.

18-34 YEARS OLD EVENT
On Tuesday evening, an exclusive networking event for 18-34 year olds before the performance.

George Benjamin’s first opera, Into the Little Hill, written with Martin Crimp, was commissioned in 2006 by the Festival d’Automne in Paris. Their second collaboration, Written on Skin, premiered at the Aix-en-Provence festival in 2012 and has since been scheduled by over 20 international opera houses, winning as many awards. Of George Benjamin the New York Times raved, “One of the greatest composers of his generation”.

Synopsis
Act I
A rich landowner invites an artist to his home, asking him to create a book of illuminations. The work’s images are to immortalize his merciless political power and the quiet enjoyment he derives from domestic order, as embodied by the humility and childish obedience of his wife Agnes. But the creation of the book becomes a catalyst for the wife’s rebellion. After a successful first attempt at seduction, she exploits her new-found intimacy with the illuminator in order to influence the very contents of the book, forcing her husband to see her as she really is—and thereby opening the door to an ultimate and extraordinary act of provocation.

January 25, 28*, 30 at 7:30 pm
February 2 at 2 pm

*Tuesday 18-34 Years Old event

Language: presented in English with English and French surtitles
Duration: 1h35

For information and tickets: www.placedesarts.com  514-842-2112 or 1-866-842-2112