Oedipe, Royal Opera House

Now, as part of the Royal Opera’s 2015/16 season, they visit Covent Garden to present one of the defining operas of the twentieth century – George Enescu’s Oedipe (1910-1931). This is a cause for celebration – reviews from the continent have described it as a complete visual spectacle, matching Enescu’s strident score with a stunning four-tiered set and a cast of dozens.

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Enescu (1881-1955) is undoubtedly Romania’s finest composer, and Oedipe is widely considered his masterpiece. A genius violinist and world-class pianist, he mastered the classical repertoire at an early age. His own compositions bear the marks of that tradition, while boldly pushing in new directions.

In Oedipe, he recounts the entirety of Oedipus’ legendary story, from before birth to after death. The result fuses the tragic dimensions of Greek tragedy with the more contemplative processes of human fate. The score takes in everything from Berlioz to Schoenberg, crafting an idiom of magnificent breadth and scale.

The mighty Danish bass-baritone Johan Reuter (Wozzeck) stars as Oedipus himself, a monumental role that requires phenomenal stamina. He is joined by a host of luminaries, including mezzo Sarah Connolly, a London favourite, as his mother Jocasta. Rising soprano Sophia Bevan (The Marriage of Figaro) plays his daughter Antigone, with Samuel Youn, John Tomlison and Claudia Huckle taking other key roles.

Alex Ollé, one of La Fura’s six core figures, directs, while the British Leo Hussain (Rouen Opera principal) conducts. This promises to be an essential London review for a landmark production.