Phaedra | Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, May 15-20, 2019
Hans Werner Henze’s final opera, composed in 2007 with libretto by Christian Lehnert. Directed by Noa Naamat and conducted by Edmund Whitehead, the production featured the Jette Parker Young Artists alongside the Southbank Sinfonia. The cast included Hongni Wu as Phaedra, Filipe Manu as Hippolyt, Jacquelyn Stucker as Aphrodite, Patrick Terry as Artemis, and Michael Mofidian as Minotaur.
takis’ set and costume design created a futuristic interpretation of the Greek myth—a central circle with curved staircase against stringed curtains, utilizing a versatile revolve that served as cage, glade, and gladiatorial ring. Reviews praised the design’s ability to capture the opera’s psychological intensity and divine interventions. The production earned takis an Olivier Award nomination.
Henze completed Phaedra at age 81, his last operatic work before his death in 2012. The Royal Opera House’s presentation in their intimate Linbury Theatre allowed audiences to experience this final masterwork in a space that emphasized the chamber-opera scale and psychological depth of Henze’s complex score.
Creative Team: Composer: Hans Werner Henze | Librettist: Christian Lehnert | Director: Noa Naamat | Designer: takis | Conductor: Edmund Whitehead | Lighting: Lee Curran