In 2020, Music Theatre Wales in association with the London Sinfonietta will present the UK premiere performances of this compelling documentary opera by composer Philip Venables and writer/director Ted Huffman in an account of tragedy and young love in a world seen through the eyes of social media.
Two 15-year-olds in love who lived every moment, including their last, online. Venables and Huffman examine the real-life tragedy of Russian runaways Denis Muravyov and Katya Viasova, who broadcast their forbidden final days together on social media. Splicing verbatim text, video, music and theatre, Denis & Katya explores how stories are shaped and shared in our age of 24/7 digital connection. What makes you click?
Denis & Katya follows the success of Venables' award-winning opera, 4.48 Psychosis, and his two multi-media, politically-driven London Sinfonietta commissions Illusions (2017) and The Gender Agenda (2018).
If we don't surrender, we die. But if we surrender, we will never see each other again. Denis & Katya (2016)
Philip Venables proves he's one of the finest composers around The Guardian on 4:48 Psychosis
Production overview
Duration: c150'
Genre: documentary opera
Orchestration: four cellos + electronics + singers: mezzo-soprano + baritone (unconducted) + Sound Intermedia = 4 musicians + 2 singers + sound projection
Key artists: Ted Huffman - libretto + director
Publisher: Ricordi
Language: English
Commission: Co-commissioned and co-produced by Opera Philadelphia, Music Theatre Wales and Opéra Orchestre Montpellier, in association with the London Sinfonietta
World Premiere: Wednesday 18 September 2019, Opera Philadelphia
UK Premiere: Thursday 27 February 2020, The Riverfront, Newport
Find out more
Please contact Music Theatre Wales Artistic Director Michael McCarthy for more information
or London Sinfonietta CEO & Artistic Director Andrew Burke for more information.
Click here to return London Sinfonietta's Projects.
