‘Minotaur’ opera premieres

The grim Greek myth of the Minotaur, half-beast and half-human, has been brought to life in a new, blood-drenched opera by leading British composer Harrison Birtwistle.

The 73-year-old, dubbed the “high priest of contemporary British music” by the Daily Telegraph, has worked on the piece for three years and composed it specifically for the Royal Opera House in London, where “The Minotaur” had its world premiere this week.

The plot includes human sacrifice, rape and ripping hearts out of people.

“ ‘The Sound of Music’ it ain’t,” wrote the Times of London’s Richard Morrison.