Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Premiered August 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th 2015 by Glyndebourne singers and the LPO. Performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden on the 9th of September 2015.

"the orchestral writing is crisp and incisive, conjuring up with imagination the successive atmospheres required for the tragedy’s trajectory."

The Guardian

"elegantly creepy, defiantly cool"

"so often, Shakespeare’s words can rush away rapidly from us on stage, but here, both projected and sung with deliberate clarity, every word shines and works its magic."

"Styles’ music swirls, hums, and draws us inexorably into the dark heart of power."

Bachtrack

"The music is scored for chamber orchestra, with evocative use of percussion and piano, and although it is pared down to the most emotionally sparse lines it still has moments of surprising lyric grace"

music OMH

“A taut, stripped-down operatic version of Shakespeare's tragedy”

“Shakespeare's text, sensitively set by former Glyndebourne young resident composer Styles in his distinctive and atmospheric score”

"the opera has much going for it, not least the superb contribution of the 12-strong band (members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra)”

The Stage

“Duncan’s “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction”, scored for trumpet, trombone, cello and bass, is eloquently introspective and the chamber ensemble oscillates fluently between reflective and martial modes.”

The Evening Standard