Following the enormous success of George Benjamin's first opera Into the Little Hill (2006), there has been huge anticipation in the musical world at the prospect of his first full-length work in this genre. After a period of intense work and isolation for Benjamin, his much-awaited new opera, Written on Skin, was premiered at the Aix-en-Provence Festival on July 7, 2012. A long standing ovation was the first of many marks of recognition and praise for this extraordinary work which has been hailed by critics as "[one of] the best operas of the 21st century so far," and "the birth of a masterpiece." The opera is scored for 60 players, lasts 95 minutes, and has a cast of five.