2025 № 1 (52)

UDC 78

LBC 85.31

DOI: 10.51678/2226-0072-2025-1-350-383

For cit.: Saamishvili N.N. Written on Skin by George Benjamin: Aspects of the Plot and Libretto of the Opera Masterpiece of Our Days. Hudozhestvennaya kul’tura [Art & Culture Studies], 2025, no. 1, pp. 350–383. https://doi.org/10.51678/2226-0072-2025-1-350-383. (In Russian)

Saamishvili Natalia N. 

Senior Researcher, Department of Theory of Music, State Institute for Art Studies, 5 Kozitsky Lane, Moscow, 125375, Russia

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7996-8131 

ResearcherID: AAS-4110-2021

nati-bedova@mail.ru

Written on Skin by George Benjamin: Aspects of the Plot and Libretto of the Opera Masterpiece of Our Days 

Abstract. The 20th century in the musical art was marked by relentless changes and experiments which we are still observing. Many things were questioned, including the possibility of the existence of such a traditional genre as opera in the current artistic realities. However, modern composers continue to create operas that inherit the best examples of this genre and win the interest of the public, preserving the continuity of tradition and at the same time setting a vector for further development. One of them is the world-renowned British author George Benjamin. 

His second opera Written on Skin (2012) can without exaggeration be considered a masterpiece of contemporary musical theater. A clear confirmation of this is its great demand among theatrical intendents and the public. Since its inception, the opera has traveled almost all over the world and continues its triumphant march around the world to this day. The secret of such success lies largely in the successfully found balance of the new and traditional, manifested at all levels of the work. 

The focus of this article is on the plot and libretto of the opera. The text, created by the English playwright Martin Crimp, is based on a legendary and shocking story. Despite the fact that the creation of an opera based on the plot of a medieval legend is quite traditional in itself, the motives touched upon in the text excite with their sharpness, and the playwright’s style with originality and special expressiveness. 

Keywords: George Benjamin, Written on Skin, contemporary opera, Martin Crimp, Guillem de Cabestany, libretto, Walter Benjamin 

References:

Benjamin W. O ponyatii istorii [About the Concept of History], transl. from German D. Molok. Khudozhestvennyi zhurnal (Moscow Art Magazine), 1995, no. 7. Available at: https://moscowartmagazine.com/issue/73/article/1551 (accessed 01.10.2024). (In Russian)

Litvak M. Treugol’nik Karpmana: zhertva, presledovatel’, izbavitel’ [Karpman’s Triangle: Victim, Persecutor, Deliverer]. Vestnik psikhologii, 14.05.2017. Available at: https://psychologyjournal.ru/public/treugolnik-karpmana/?ysclid=m3aard2msv692068179 (accessed 07.09.2024). (In Russian)

Maizuls S. “Tsvet istorii”: kak ustroen srednevekovyi manuskript [“The Color of Stories”: How Does a Medieval Manuscript Work?]. Arzamas, 23.03.2021. Available at:  https://arzamas.academy/mag/946-manuscript (accessed 15.10.2024). (In Russian)

Mikhailov A.V. Angel istorii izumlen … [The Angel of History Is Amazed…]. Portal “Zhurnal’nyi zal”. Available at: https://magazines.gorky.media/nov_yun/1996/13/angel-istorii-izumlen.html (accessed 15.10.2024). (In Russian)

Perets V.N. Kabestan [Cabestany]. Ehntsiklopedicheskii slovar’ [The Encyclopedic Dictionary], publ. F.A. Brokgauz and I.A. Efron, ed. professor I.E. Andreevsky. Vol. XIIIA: Istoricheskie zhurnaly — Kalaidovich [Historical Journals — Kalaidovich]. St. Petersburg, Tipografiya Aktsionernogo Obshchestva Brokgauz-Efron Publ., 1894, p. 786. Available at: https://www.prlib.ru/item/463139 (accessed 01.10.2024). (In Russian)

Romashko S.A. Benjamin Val’ter [Benjamin Walter]. Bol’shaya rossiiskaya ehntsiklopediya 2004–2017. Available at: https://old.bigenc.ru/philosophy/text/1859046 (accessed 01.10.2024). (In Russian)

Benjamin G. Written on Skin: Full Score. London, Faber Music, 2012. 401 p.

Benjamin / Crimp. Written on Skin. Opera Philadelphia, 2018. Sounds of Learning: Educational Program. Available at: https://issuu.com/operaphila/docs/wos_online (accessed 10.10.2024).

Briegleb T. Satiriker des Schmerzes. Ein Realismus der schlimmsten Wendung: Laudatio zur Verleihung des Jürgen Bansemer & Ute Nyssen- Theaterpreises an Martin Crimp. Der Theater Verlag, Mai 2021, Seite 34. Available at:  https://www.der-theaterverlag.de/theater-heute/archiv/artikel/satiriker-des-schmerzes/ (accessed 29.11.2024).

Clements A., Maddocks F., Lewis J., Molleson K., Service T., Jeal E., Ashley T. The Best Classical Music Works of the 21st Century. The Guardian, 2019, September 12. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/12/best-classical-music-works-of-the-21st-century (accessed 29.11.2024).

Darigan D. A Reader’s Guide to the Style of Martin Crimp. Benjamin / Crimp Written on Skin. Opera Philadelphia, 2018. Sounds of Learning: Educational Program. Available at: https://issuu.com/operaphila/docs/wos_online (accessed 10.10.2024).

Der Komponist George Benjamin über Wtitten on Skin. Written on Skin. George Benjamin. Deutsche Oper Berlin, Redaktion Sebastian Hanusa. Copyright Stiffung Oper in Berlin, 2024, s. 14–17.

Die Handlung. Written on Skin. 10. November 2018. Elbphilharmonie Grosser Saal: Programmheft. Available at: https://d3c80vss50ue25.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/2b/f5/2bf5e813-68ee-4fa0-b035-3669935b8e73/... (accessed 01.10.2024).

Dillon E. Vocal Philologies: Written on Skin and the Troubadours. Opera Quartely, 2018, vol. 33, issue 3–4, pp. 207–248. https://doi.org/10.1093/oq/kbx029.

George Benjamin: Biographie. IRCAM Centre Pompidou. Available at: https://brahms.ircam.fr/en/george-benjamin#bio (accessed 01.10.2024).

George Benjamin. Written on Skin. Faber Music: All Performances. Available at: https://www.fabermusic.com/performances?page=1&_workId=309 (accessed: 01.10.2024).

George Benjamin. Written on Skin. Duet for Piano & Orchestra: [CD Album], Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Christopher Purves, Rebecca Jo Loeb, Allan Clayton; Mahler Chamber Orchestra, George Benjamin (conductor). Nimbus Records, 2013.

Higgins C. ‘I Threw My Pop Records in the Bin’: George Benjamin on His Defining Moments — and His Latest Opera. The Guardian, 2023, September 13. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/13/george-benjamin-picture-a-day-like-this-crimp-messiaen... (accessed 01.09.2024).

Libretto. Written on Skin. 10. November 2018. Elbphilharmonie Grosser Saal: Programmheft. Available at: https://d3c80vss50ue25.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/2b/f5/2bf5e813-68ee-4fa0-b035-3669935b8e73/... (accessed 01.10.2024).

Palmer A. George Benjamin. Palmer A. Encounters with British Composers. Woodbridge, The Boydell Press, 2015, pp. 41–51.

Séjourné J. Power in George Benjamin’s Opera “Written on Skin” (2012): Research paper — Performance studies. Academia.edu, published 2020. Available at: [https://www.academia.edu/44947575/Power_in_George_Benjamins_opera_Written_on_skin_ 2012_ (accessed 01.09.2024).

Sierz A. The Theater of Martin Crimp. 2nd ed. Bloomsbury, 2013. 301 p.

Sir George Benjamin. Written on Skin. George Benjamin. Biografien. Deutsche Oper Berlin, Redaktion Sebastian Hanusa. Copyright Stiffung Oper in Berlin, 2024, s. 49.

Vachon J.-P. Written on Skin: Notes. Florence Gould Auditorium, Seiji Ozawa Hall. Tanglewood Music Center Fellows. August 12, 2013. Available at: https://media.wnyc.org/media/resources/2013/Oct/31/Benjamin_Written_on_Skin_notes.pdf (accessed 11.10.2024).

Vir P. The Astonishing George Benjamin: A Composer for Our Age. Serenade Magazine, 2018, August 24. Available at: https://serenademagazine.com/the-astonishing-george-benjamin-a-composer-for-our-age/ (accessed 11.10.2024).

Wolfe Sh. Stories of Iconic Artworks: Paul Klee’s Angelus Novus. Magazine Artland. Available at: https://magazine.artland.com/stories-of-iconic-artworks-paul-klees-angelus-novus/ (accessed 01.10.2024).

Received 10.10.2024 

Accepted 19.11.2024