The work, a retelling of the Greek myth of the Minotaur, premiered at the Royal Opera House on 15 April 2008 under the stage direction of Stephen Langridge.

Tomlinson also created the role of the Green Knight in Birtwistle's 1990 opera Gawain.

From the programme notes:The Minotaur does not fully comprehend the duality of his physical nature as half-bull, half-man; only in sleep and, ultimately, in death does his human side become evident.

Ariadne hopes that, with the help of the Oracle, she will enable Theseus to find a way out of the labyrinth should he survive his encounter with the Minotaur.

Scene 2: The Choice Theseus tells Ariadne about his departure from Athens with the Innocents.

Scene 10: The Oracle at Psychro Ariadne asks the Snake Priestess how she might help Theseus escape the labyrinth.

The Snake Priestess, speaking through the Hiereus, advises Ariadne to give Theseus a ball of twine.

The Snake Priestess also confirms that Ariadne will set sail for Athens with Theseus.

Scene 11: A Blind Bargain Ariadne relays the Snake Priestess's prophecy to Theseus.

Theseus hesitates momentarily when the Minotaur acquires the power of human speech, but then delivers the fatal blow.

[7] The Minotaur was ranked third in a 2019 poll by The Guardian of the greatest classical works of the 21st century, with Andrew Clements arguing that the opera has "music of lyrical beauty and pungent transparency.