Lessons in Love and Violence

A king is forced to choose between love and the harsh reality of politics. He makes a fatal decision, after which his people and his family gruesomely turn on him. George Benjamin is the composer in focus at this year's festival, reflecting especially on his journey through the world of song and music theatre, building up to this new opera. Lessons in Love and Violence (2018), coproduced with Dutch National Opera, is conducted by the composer himself. Director Katie Mitchell and librettist Martin Crimp are also returning. The casts consists of baritone Stéphane Degout and tenor Peter Hoare as well as top soprano Barbara Hannigan.