BBC Philharmonic Orchestra 2025-26 Season Angel's Bone

Care becomes contempt and love becomes loathing in this dark, unsettling parable from contemporary composer Du Yun and librettist Royce Vavrek.

The Chinese-American composer, performance artist and activist won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Angel’s Bone, which is her second opera. In 2019, she was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Breaking with operatic tradition, Angel’s Bone fuses multiple musical genres, spoken word and immersive staging in an uncompromising tale of modern slavery and human trafficking.

An English National Opera production in collaboration with Factory International and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, this UK premiere of the Pulitzer-prize winning opera will be staged at Aviva Studios, Manchester in May 2026. The chorus will be performed by Manchester based ensemble, Kantos Chamber Choir.

Royce Vavrek’s libretto explores the dark forces that drive people into the murky underworld of human trafficking. This is underpinned with Du Yun’s eclectic style, ranging from chamber music and cabaret to electronica to punk.

Director Kip Williams adds dynamic staging that immerses audiences in the production. By using projection and multiple viewing angles, Williams invites audiences to question their own part in the exploitation of the celestial beings.

Please note this production depicts difficult themes including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, drug, smoking and alcohol misuse, as well as death. We recommend reading the full advice on content before booking, which can be found on Factory Internationl's website under Access: Advice on Content. This show is still in creative development and may contain flashing lights. Please check back on the website closer to the date for further updates.