New Directions in Opera

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If you've been reading the opera posts on this blog, you'll notice that the directions we're taking with "It Must Be Fate" are those classical opera hasn't previously explored - Looking at other industries for style, focus on characters and then leveraging new markets.

Well, we're not alone. "The Rake's Progress" was done with a focus toward the film industry, with many effects more common in film than on stage (in opera). "The Fly" opened in Paris (early July) - a remake of an old film but only in terms of structure and basic storyline. The libretto is wholly new with a focus on characters. Now there is "Baywatch: the opera" which is a project to bring opera to the masses.

Each production took a very different approach to the opera art form. "The Rake's Progress" was mounted, in many respects, like traditional opera, although the artistic design has numerous new elements. "The Fly" was the collaboration of film industry professionals, whose work in film gave the music, the story, the feeling a very different viewpoint. With "Baywatch" the focus in drawing in the community, bring people who wouldn't normally be interested in opera to not only come see it, but be a part of the production, (according to the news article as there is little on the WNO website in terms of details)

There are other operas out there doing new and amazing stuff as well: John Adams' "Doctor Atomic", "Monkey King: Journey to the West" and "Adriana Mater" US premier in Santa Fe this year.

It's great to see the art form filled with so many new and exciting ideas, looking in new directions and thinking outside the box. It's also nice to think our own project has many "outside the box" elements in common with these other productions. Perhaps we're on the right track.

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