An exciting new collaboration is on the horizon for contemporary opera fans in New York. Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic have announced they're bringing concert-goers several fully assembled opera productions, the first coming from British composer George Benjamin.
Beginning this August, the companies will put on the first American stagings of Benjamin's Written on Skin, which, according to the New York Times, is "one of the most highly praised new operas of recent years."
The production will premiere at the David H. Koch Theater as part of the Mostly Mozart Festival and will be followed with Gerald Barry's The Importance of Being Earnest at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater.
A third opera is being planned for 2017 but, unfortunately, details have not yet been released.
Benjamin's production will be given three performances at Lincoln's Koch Theater from August 11 to 15. The cast for the U.S. stage premiere will include Barbara Hannigan, Victoria Simmonds and Christopher Purves. New York Phil's Alan Gilbert will conduct the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
Hopefully, the new collaboration will not strike a bad chord with the Metropolitan Orchestra. Alas, both companies should be able to coexist in the somewhat fruitful market of New York City operagoers.
For now, though, lend an ear and eye to an earlier staging of Skin at the Royal Opera:
