Berlioz: Les Troyens

Set in the ruins of Troy and Carthage, this opera chronicles the tragic fate of the Trojan War's aftermath and the ill-fated love between the Trojan prince Aeneas and the Carthaginian queen Dido. Dido's love leads to her downfall as Aeneas is destined to found Rome, a destiny that ultimately causes her profound despair and suicide. The opera explores themes of duty, destiny, love, and betrayal against a grand, epic backdrop.

Dmitri Tcherniakov's ambitious, modern staging of Berlioz's epic opera 'Les Troyens' was met with a mix of awe and controversy. While praised for its visual boldness and psychological depth in reinterpreting the classic narrative, some critics found the directorial choices to be overly interpretive and at odds with the grandeur of the original work. Nevertheless, the stellar musical performances, particularly from the principals, generally received high acclaim, making it a significant, albeit divisive, operatic event.

• Praised for its powerful musical direction and vocal performances.

• Lauded for Tcherniakov's daring and intellectual approach to the staging.

• Criticized by some for deviating too far from traditional operatic conventions and the original libretto's spirit.

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Dmitri Tcherniakov's production reimagined 'Les Troyens' not as a historical epic, but as a contemporary exploration of trauma and memory, with the entire opera taking place within a single, multi-layered psychiatric facility.