| Lessons in Love and Violence | |
|---|---|
| Opera by George Benjamin | |
| Librettist | Martin Crimp |
| Language | English |
| Based on | story of King Edward II and Piers Gaveston |
| Premiere | 10 May 2018 Royal Opera House, London |
Lessons in Love and Violence is an opera with music by George Benjamin and libretto by Martin Crimp. The opera, which is based on the story of King Edward II and Piers Gaveston, was premiered at the Royal Opera House London on 10 May 2018, conducted by the composer and directed by Katie Mitchell. The opera was a co-production with Dutch National Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Opéra de Lyon, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, and Teatro Real, Madrid.[1]
The opera covers the events set out in Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II, which combines the story of Edward and Gaveston (who was murdered in 1312), with the deposition of Edward II by Mortimer (1327) and the overthrow of Mortimer and Edward's queen Isabella of France by Edward III (1330).[2]
The opera is in two parts, of four and three scenes respectively, and is performed without a break.[3] King Edward is not referred to by name, only as 'the King'. Similarly his wife Queen Isabella is referred to simply as Isabel, and his son, later Edward III, is listed as 'Boy, later Young King'. Both Gaveston and Edward's nemesis Mortimer are named.