Half urban myth, half folklore, the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse-keepers from the Flannan Isles one night in 1900 has never been satisfactorily explained. Theories abound; questions linger. As a child, I became obsessed by this mystery one summer, poring over maps and photographs (in the days before the internet) with no more success than anyone else; the utter isolation of the lighthouse, and its crew, remained for me one of the most terrifying facets of the conundrum. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ chilling three-handed opera offers us an unsettling solution, presented for the Royal Opera House in a beautifully designed production by Alyson Cummins, showcasing the notable talents of three members of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, most especially the bronze-toned British bass David Shipley.

Click here to read my full review on Bachtrack.