The opera is composed by Rachel Portman, with a libretto by Nicholas Wright, and is directed by Francesca Zambello in her Boston Lyric Opera debut. Zambello has staged operas at English National Opera and Royal Opera House in London, Paris Opera, and San Francisco Opera; her recent productions include Les Troyens at the Metropolitan Opera and Don Giovanni for the Royal Opera House.

Two trebles, Jeffrey Walter and Jeffrey Allison share the title role, which they sang at the opera's world premiere run with the Houston Grand Opera in 2003. Baritones Keith Phares and Hugh Russell sing the part of the Pilot.