Greek

An opera in two acts based on the play of the same name Steven Berkoff Composer: Mark-Anthony Turnage

Fate could not be more cruel: fulfilling a prophecy, Oedipus unknowingly murders his father and marries his mother. Since ancient times, this myth about the Theban ruler has been adapted by countless authors, unleashing its power on the stage and counteracted the idea of free will. The London actor and playwright Steven Berkoff locates his version of the tale in the socially deprived areas of his home city, letting the social pressures and cruelties of the present flow into the myth. Marc Anthony Turnage's operatic version is based on Berkoff's drama. It plays freely with the musical styles of the 20th Century, thereby unleashing its very own power. The work was first performed in 1988 at the Munich Biennale and was the composer's international breakthrough. Almost thirty years later, a young production team once again take on the piece's timeless questions as part of the Festival Workshop.