Mariinsky: Richard Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten

Requiring huge forces, Die Frau ohne Schatten boasts perhaps Strauss's most sumptuous score, poignantly illuminating the magic, mystery and earthy warmth of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's characters. Led by Valery Gergiev, this epic production from St Peterburg's famed Mariinsky Opera is a collaboration between two British artists, director Jonathan Kent and designer Paul Brown. Die Frau ohne Schatten is a spectacular and opulent dramatic tour de force, radiantly evoking the contrasts between the spirit world and human existence.