About the work
Philippe Boesmans composed the French-language opera "Au monde" after the 2004 play of the same name by author and director Joël Pommerat, who also wrote the libretto and staged the premiere production. The opera in twenty scenes premiered on 30 March 2014 at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
Plot
The children of a gravely ill, wealthy businessman gather at their father's house as he prepares to hand over his business. The plot centres on the family's anticipation of the return of the youngest son, to whom the father intends to transfer the company, and the tensions this stirs among the siblings.
Cultural significance
With "Au monde", Boesmans tackled a contemporary subject for the first time with the direct involvement of its still-living author, who both wrote the libretto and directed the production. The opera received an International Opera Award in 2015.