BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN TO BECOME OPERA
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is about to become an opera, reports the ASSOCIATED PRESS.
THE NEW YORK CITY OPERA announced today that it had commissioned Charles Wuorinen to compose a piece based on the 1997 short story, which became the basis for the Ang Lee directed film.
“Ever since encountering Annie Proulx’s extraordinary story I have wanted to make an opera on it and it gives me great joy that Gerard Mortier and NEW YORK CITY OPERA have given me the opportunity to do so,” Mr. Wuorninen said in a statement.
He is no stranger to creating new compositions. In 1970, Mr. Wuorinen became the youngest composer ever to win the PULITZER PRIZE in music for TIME’S ENCOMIUM.
The opera will premiere in the spring of 2013.
June 9, 2008 at 6:03 am
What the hell? An opera? Wow. I never expected that.
Not that I would ever see it {because it would never make it to my town, not because I wouldn’t see it, coz I would} but it sounds like it could be really interesting to see how it all works out.
An opera? But the novel/story’s power comes more from the moments of silent reflection and internal goings-on, it is a rather quiet story, in terms of how much is actually narrative and how much is description.
I guess it makes it more interesting finding out.
June 9, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Nicky, they use some pretty amazing or off beat source material for operas now. If someone talented feels strongly that they can make something out of it, then I’m all for it.
Well, you don’t know that it wouldn’t come to your town, sugar plum. It’s just like another form of theatre. I mean, touring companies of the popular musicals come to my city – and not only am I on the west coast, but I’m not in LA. I’m a good 3,000 miles (AT LEAST) from the footlights of Broadway.
True, I do live in a metropolis of 2,000,000 where we have a thriving theatre scene. But it’s very small time relatively, especially in comparison to LA.
So you never know. Plus once this is commissioned it’s there for posterity. You can go into a hall anywhere and watch it wherever it may be. Even many years later.
You don’t want to stay in SA anyway. So by the time you make it stateside the BM opera may just be playing in a venue in NY or LA.
Have a little faith, sweetie. Life has many mysterious happenings awaiting you. I’m fully certain of that.