Philip Glass's latest opera, The Perfect American, premieres tonight at Madrid's Teatro Real. Based on Peter Stephan Jungk's novel of the same name, it presents 13 fictionalised episodes in the life of Walt Disney in a production by Phelim McDermott.
Mickey, Donald and the rest of the cartoon crew are no-shows. In their place are a robotic Abraham Lincoln, an owl attack, and a visit from Andy Warhol. A largely British cast features Christopher Purves in the principal role.
If you can't wait until it turns up at ENO in June, you can watch it live on 6 February on the Teatro Real's web channel, where it will remain on demand (price from €9.95). It will also be shown later on TVE (Spain), ARTE (France and Germany), WDR (Germany), France Television and NHK (Japan). (UPDATE - to be shown on Mezzo TV too).
Photos below, video here.
