Royal Opera - Festen

Decorum descends into chaos as Thomas Vinterberg’s cult film is transformed into a bold new opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage in this world premiere.

When a wealthy hotel owner gathers friends and loved ones to celebrate his 60th birthday, his children must confront the pain of their past – and the man responsible.

A piercing new opera of trauma and complicity. Acclaimed contemporary composer Mark-Anthony Turnage (Anna Nicole, Coraline) and librettist Lee Hall (Billy Elliott) come together with director Richard Jones (La bohème, Samson et Dalila) to adapt Oscar-winning filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg’s (The Hunt, Another Round) 1998 film. An international cast conducted by Edward Gardner and led by Allan Clayton, Stéphane Degout and Gerald Finley takes on this operatic world premiere.