Orphée (v2)

Originally intended to be a revival of the earlier site-specific production done for Copenhagen (see Orphée v1), it was a challenge not only to rethink the piece with a new designer (Francisco’s first chance to work with Es Devlin), but to go from a huge power station to a small studio theatre.The production was a collaboration between the Royal Opera House and ROH2 so was to be performed by te main company, in the Linbury theatre. It turned out the Linbury offered some hidden exciting possibilities,and the show ended up being the most spectacular thing one could ever imagine in a space that simple and that small. The action took place at floor, eye and ceiling levels and also under floor level. Two of the wonderful Vilar Young Artists in the cast went on to win major awards at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition that same year. The technical and visual achievement made it something of a cult hit with the largely non-opera audiences.

• Royal Opera House · London · May 2005