T1ts out at Covent Garden
The Royal Opera House is going to stage an opera based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith. Early versions of the story implied Richard Thomas, composer of the musical Jerry Springer:The Opera, was scoring it, but it turns out he's just writing the libretto; the music will be handled by the fully house-trained Mark-Anthony Turnage. So no dumb 'dumbing down' comments on that account.
But where will they find a credibly-bewbed soprano to fill Anna Nicole's mighty cups?
Beat that Tony Pappano
When the Pittsburgh Opera's Radames lost his voice in the last act of Aida, conductor Antony Walker stepped in and sang the role from the pit while he waved his baton. "I had a lovely duet with the sopranos," said Mr. Walker. "A conductor and a singer often communicate."
It's not open till the fat bloke sings
What's getting Norwegians more heated than a Dale sweater? Amongst the performers at the 12 April opening of Oslo's brand new opera house will be the Ole Ivars dance band, whose best known song apparently translates as "oh how fat you've become".
