Written On Skin

When Written on Skin had its premiere at the 2012 Festival dAixenProvence conducted by George Benjamin himself it received a standing ovation The operas arrival at Covent Garden in 2013 was eagerly anticipated and provided audiences with the opportunity to experience the work of two of Britains greatest living artists Benjamin previously collaborated with playwright Martin Crimp on Into the Little Hill a magical retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale and for this new work they joined forces with acclaimed stage director Katie Mitchell For all three the production marked their mainstage debut at the Royal Opera House The tale inspired by a medieval legend tells of an illfated troubadour drawn into a liaison with an innocent maiden But they are observed by the jealous eye of her protector who wreaks a shocking revenge on the young couple Written on Skin draws on a 12thcentury Occitan legend about the troubadour Guillaume de Cabestanh