An operatic trivia question: Can anyone name the opera featuring the form's first openly gay male character and its composer? Bonus points for naming the character and the singer who created the role! :D
I believe opera will be a very interesting medium for BBM, though I am having some trouble picturing it; I agree Moremojo - portraying Ennis' character will be especially challenging. Perhaps the operatic format will offer deeper insight into what he is thinking/feeling, offered as asides. Or, his character will have some extremely short pieces! :D How will they translate all those 'hunhs' ?
I'm guessing "Death in Venice" by Benjamin Britten, starring Peter Pears as Aschenbach (though I wouldn't describe him as openly gay). :)That's a good guess, Meryl, but it is actually The Knot Garden, composed by Michael Tippett (1905-1998) to his own libretto, and which premiered at London's Covent Garden on December 2, 1970. The character is Dov, and tenor Robert Tear created the role. As Dov's lover Mel (created by Thomas Carey) is also a character in the opera, one could argue that this opera introduced two more-or-less openly gay male characters to the genre, but Dov is always the one cited in this context.
Jos Van Kan was the director of the Dutch play Brokeback Mountain, which we Eurobrokies (and our Eurobrokie H.C., Leslie) saw together back in March. He wanted to make an opera about BBM.
I wonder whether Jos van Kan has something to do with this, or if someone else had the same idea and this is a totally different project?
I wonder this too. It would be very exciting, but I think he wanted to do this in London, if I remember correctly. He still has the stage rights so he can do with it what he wants, at least that's what the actors said! Can't believe that was already half a year ago!!!
:D
I'm STILL thinking about that washrag. :-\
Do you mean this one?
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o60/Snuitjeboe/IMG_0733.jpg)
Sweet memories.... :D
Yes, really.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h243/lnicoll/DSCN0264.jpg)
L
Can't see why an opera of Brokeback Mountain shouldn't work. After all, there's already been a ballet version - the Matthew Bourne (gay) interpretation of Swan Lake. Sure, Jack and Ennis are not named as such, but it is a love story about two tragic, star-crossed gay lover. And as an added bonus, the story is set to Tchaikovsky's original, breathtakingly beautiful musical score. The Matthew Bourne production of Swan Lake was touring in Australia earlier this year and I saw it here in Sydney. To say it was sublime would be an understatement. It certainly had me in tears at the end. If it ever tours anywhere near you (they're London based), be sure to see it. :DI missed this when it played in Denver last holiday season, but I did see Edward Scizzorhands by Matthew Bourne.(http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/kez4oz/swanlake-1.jpg)
Apparently the composer, Charles Wuorinen, is a a strict adherent of the atonal Schönberg school, which scares a lot of people.
I think a BbM opera is pretty exciting? I'm not familiar with the talent out there, who should sing the leads?
There are rumors...unconfirmed and unsubstantiated...that Hugh Jackman and James Marsden are being considered.I thought these were the names being floated for the proposed musical...I don't think either of these gentlemen would have the requisite piping ( ::)) for opera.
The modernist twelve-tone serialist tradition to which Wuorinen belongs actually seems like it could be quite appropriate for such a spare, austere, and even bleak story. I doubt the soundtrack will ever take off and enter people's hearts like Gustavo's for the film, but approached strictly within the context of the staged work, the score might prove quite fitting.
It also occurs to me, considering the atonal tradition founded by Schoenberg, that some of the characters may express themselves in Sprechgesang rather than lyrically. I could easily imagine the character of Ennis being written in this way.
I thought these were the names being floated for the proposed musical...I don't think either of these gentlemen (Hugh Jackman and James Marsden) would have the requisite piping ( ::)) for opera.
I thought the same thing, Scott. Didn't make sense to me. Sounds like Leslie's source had its stories crossed.
How 'bout we cast Scott (not you, our Yankee friend) as Ennis? :D
Me? Hell no...I could never plumb the depths of that man. Nice thought though.
Could I be there when they cast Jack...you know...to see if I can kiss him without vomitting.
I'm super, ultra skeptical of this venture.
Tell you what, so am I, but it's still fun to think of you and Milo Morris singin' Ennis and Jack.
Hubba hubba. ;D
Tell you what, so am I, but it's still fun to think of you and Milo Morris singin' Ennis and Jack.
Hubba hubba. ;D
Can you picture a 5'7 white man singing "I ain't queer" to a 6'4 black man...that's a visual
"It would be a big piece," Stokar said, "something for an actual opera house."
I believe opera will be a very interesting medium for BBM, though I am having some trouble picturing it; I agree Moremojo - portraying Ennis' character will be especially challenging. Perhaps the operatic format will offer deeper insight into what he is thinking/feeling, offered as asides. Or, his character will have some extremely short pieces! :D How will they translate all those 'hunhs' ?
And, I'm willing to bet Meryl, our resident opera-expert, just nailed your trivia question!
Could you elaborate on those feelings, Scott? I for one am excited by this development, even if the results prove mediocre--but disastrous would be, well, disastrous.
Do you feel pessimistic based on Wuorinen's style or skills? I should note that I've heard nothing by him. Or do you think that the subject itself simply doesn't lend itself to the operatic form?
Yes, we, gay men, need the BM Opera, as one choice, but better than the Brokeback Movie!!The opera is not likely to be any more "pro-gay" than the film or, for that matter, the original story. Homophobia, both internalized and external, is a dominant theme in this work.
Especially for pro-gay!!
I just wrote to Wuorinen's manager, asking if there is any further news on this. I'll let you know if I get a response.
I got a response from Howard Stokar (Wuorinen's manager):
"Check back on 9 June...a press release will be issued that day!"
I will be there the night it opens, diety willing and if the creeks don't rise.
Me, too! Can't believe my place of employ actually did something that smart! ;D
I will be there the night it opens, diety willing and if the creeks don't rise.
Me too, I'll wear a gown to the opera!
Me, too! Can't believe my place of employ actually did something that smart! ;D
Hey Meryl, that means that Gerard Mortier will be your boss as of next year?
I've been meaning to post these links that were shared at work by our publicity manager:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=3044&newssectionID=1
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/goingson/2008/06/up-the-mountain.html
http://nymag.com/arts/all/approvalmatrix/47813/
http://www.observer.com/2008/i-brokeback-mountain-i-opera-coming-new-york
http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=82529196
Philadelphia Inquirer Q & A with Charles Wuorinen:
http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/ArtsWatch/2008/06/brokeback_mountain_the_opera_1.html
http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/brokeback-mountain-opera-not-gayest-thing-ever-still-vv-gay/3143
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/06/brokeback_mountain_opera_not_n.html#more
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987093.html
Boston Globe article on Charles Wuorinen:
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/06/06/in_50_years_as_a_composer_no_compromise/
YouTube clips:
Blogs:
http://www.towleroad.com/2008/06/brokeback-mount.html
http://perezhilton.com/2008-06-08-making-something-gay-even-gayer
The comments on this are a hoot:
http://parterre.com/?p=1067