Commission to Brett Dean

“Of One Blood” were the two powerful women, related to each other, whose graves lie side by side in London’s Westminster Abbey. Nevertheless, the two were as far apart as could be during their lifetimes: Elizabeth I ruled England and Ireland as queen for almost half a century, while Mary Stuart reigned over Scotland for a quarter of a century. A bitter power struggle between Protestant supremacy and Catholic opposition, and ultimately pressure from Parliament, forced the English queen to have Mary Stuart executed.

This story is told not only in numerous history books and Friedrich Schiller’s drama Maria Stuart, but also in Brett Dean’s new opera, which will premiere at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich’s Nationaltheater under General Music Director Vladimir Jurowski. Heather Betts found material for the libretto in letters written by the two queens and other sources from the 16th century, which fundamentally distinguishes the text from numerous other literary adaptations of the subject matter: Heather Betts’ compilation condenses the spiral of power struggles, intrigue, violence, aristocratic influence, and the female perspective on history, which had been escalating for several decades, into a captivating dramaturgy of situations that provides a welcome backdrop for Brett Dean’s music: it offers soundscapes of enormous dynamic range in which extremes are exploited, with unconventional playing techniques also being used.

The commission for Brett Dean’s composition is supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
staatsoper.de

Dates

May 10, 14, 17 & 21, 2026
June 27 & 29, 2026
Nationaltheater, Munich