GEORGE BENJAMIN (b.1960): Written On Skin.

Description: Seeing this boldly contemporary take on traditional grand opera certainly adds a dimension to the CD recording we offered last August. Martin Crimp's clever and involving text adapts a 13th-century story of a woman, Agnès, who lives in obedient subjugation to her husband, but who experiences an erotic awakening and freedom from thoughtless obedience after an affair with an illuminator of manuscripts hired by her husband. The husband murders the artist and serves his heart to Agnès to eat; she remains defiant and commits suicide. The story is 'presented' by 'Angels', who also act as a commenting chorus, and this lends a certain distant, historically remote perspective to the action, ingeniously reflected in some highly inventive instrumentation; in general the palette of orchestral color is especially rich and varied, irresistibly suggestive of the luminous, exquisite hues of illuminated manuscripts. The visually superb production clearly presents the contrast between the contemporary 'angels' and their seamless metamorphosis into the 13th-century story that they 'illuminate' through ingenious staging, in a way that an audio recording cannot match. The beautifully subtle sets and lighting evoke the atmosphere without an excess of fussy, distracting detail. Much of the action is filmed in close-up, with multiple dramatic camera angles to immerse the viewer in the drama. Extras are a brief interview with the composer and a tiny documentary with other interviews. Christopher Purves (bass-baritone), Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Bejun Mehta (countertenor), Victoria Simmonds (mezzo), Allan Clayton (tenor), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin. 2013 release. 1:2.35 cinemascope, DTS digital surround or PCM stereo. NTSC all regions. 90 min. + 6 min. Christopher Purves (bass-baritone), Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Bejun Mehta (countertenor), Victoria Simmonds (mezzo), Allan Clayton (tenor), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin. 2013 release. 1:2.35 cinemascope, DTS digital surround or PCM stereo. NTSC all regions. 90 min. + 6 min. bonus.