Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Benedict Mason
Playing Away (1993)
- Chester Music Ltd (World)
Commissioned by the City of Munich for the 1994 Münchner Biennale
- 2121/2221/3perc/2syn/egtr/ebgtr/str
- Chorus
- 2 Sopranos, Helden Tenor, Baritone, Bass, 19 subsidiary roles (may be doubled)
- 1 hr 40 min
- Howard Brenton
- English
Programme Note
Synopsis
The opera is set on two days in Munich in the 1990s. A British football team, City FC, are playing Bayern München in the European Cup. The British team has a player, Terry Bond, of world class and great fame. The opera tells of his turbulent professional life with his fellow players and the fans that follow the team, and of his dark private life with his famous wife and his mistress. The second act stages the football match, overseen by a mysterious and terrifying referee. The match turns out to be the great player's last, but in it he achieves a kind of salvation.
The opera is set on two days in Munich in the 1990s. A British football team, City FC, are playing Bayern München in the European Cup. The British team has a player, Terry Bond, of world class and great fame. The opera tells of his turbulent professional life with his fellow players and the fans that follow the team, and of his dark private life with his famous wife and his mistress. The second act stages the football match, overseen by a mysterious and terrifying referee. The match turns out to be the great player's last, but in it he achieves a kind of salvation.