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Light of Passage

Crystal Pite’s poignant work grapples with themes of safe passage, displacement, community and mortality.

Background
Masses of dancers move as a mesmerising whole. Bodies, fluid and yearning, are bathed in shafts of light. A single voice emerges, a lament that distils the magnitude of human suffering. A journey begins...
Crystal Pite, in her distinctive choreographic style, grapples with themes of safe passage, displacement, community and mortality. Set to Gorecki’s affecting Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, this award-winning work is a reminder of the power of human connection in our turbulent times.

Powerful art
In Light of Passage, Crystal Pite reckons with the existential tensions of the human condition, masterfully demonstrating how art can move the soul and provoke thought. In the choreographer’s own words, ‘there is a profound optimism in putting something like this out into the world and connecting to each other through it. When people collaborate to create a work of art and an audience gathers to witness it, there is something very hopeful and powerful about the experience. I want to create conditions in the theatre where we can gather around what we cannot know and grapple with it, together.’

A record in classical music publishing history
Light of Passage is set to Polish composer Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No.3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs). Created in 1976 for a large orchestra and solo soprano, it would become a defining composition of the 20th century. The symphony had its big break in 1989 with a performance by the London Sinfonietta, conductor David Zinman and soprano Dawn Upshaw, which was recorded by Elektra Nonesuch and picked up by Classic FM. Played on rotation on airwaves around the country, it reached no.6 on the UK album charts of 1993. The recording would become the most popular contemporary classical CD ever, selling over a million copies.

Assisted Performances:
Audio-described performance with a pre-performance Touch Tour - Saturday 1 March, 7.30pm

Age Restrictions

Ages 8+. Children under the age of five are not permitted into our theatres. Children over age five must have their own ticket and sit next to an accompanying adult

Performance Times

Now taking bookings for performances from Thu 20th February 2025 until Wed 12th March 2025.

Show times for each day are below.

Mon

-

Tue

-

Wed

-

Thu

-

Fri

7.30pm

Sat

1.30pm
7.30pm

Sun

-

Royal Opera House Details

Buses Icon Bus routes: (Aldwych) RV1, 6, 11, 13, 23, 59, 68, 87, 171, 172, 188, X68

Night Buses Icon Night buses: (Aldwych) 6, 23, 188, N11, N13, N26, N47, N68, N87, N89, N155, N171, N551

Rail Icon Nearest rail: Charing Cross

London Underground Icon Tube lines: Piccadilly

London Underground Icon Nearest tube: Covent Garden

Directions Icon Directions from Covent Garden :

(3 mins) The Royal Opera House is off Covent Garden piazza, which is visible from the tube station exit. There is a revolving door entrance at the piazza.

Parking Icon Car park: Drury Lane, Parker Street (7mins)

Congestion Zone Icon In congestion zone?: Yes

Facilities at Royal Opera House

Air conditioned

Bar

Disabled toilets

Infrared hearing loop

Toilets

Wheelchair accessible

Royal Opera House Location

Bow Street, London, WC2E 9DD
Get directions

Please note: The location shown on the map is an approximate location of the theatre. In the majority of cases the theatre will be marked on the map so please make sure you locate the exact location yourself. If the theatre is not shown on the map please make sure you locate the correct road name and take account of the directions.

Light of Passage

Royal Opera House, London

Running until: Wed 12th March 2025

Running time: 1hr 30min. Incl. 1 Interval.