(h/t: Opera Chic) Woody Allen is rehearsing Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi for Los Angelas Opera. Evidently, Mark Stern, LA Opera Chairman and CEO, and friend of Allen’s, asked him a number of times, begged, perhaps, to direct an opera. So, Allen reluctantly accepts his friend’s invitation although he’s concerned about disappointing everybody, “which I’m sure I will”. Still he agreed and since, according to Allen,
“these things are planned years in advance” … “I’ll be dead before it happens. I’m 72. I’m never going to make it to the opera.”
(never say never).
Schicci is the third act of Puccini’s Il Trittico, a collection of three one-act operas, and a comedy, which may be the saving grace for Allen. (or maybe not). Billy Friedkin, who directed The French Connection and The Exorcist, is no stranger to opera, having directed Schicci for Washington National Opera in 2006, will direct the first two acts, Il tabarro and Suor Angelica.
So it shouldn’t be a total loss.
(maybe).
Tags: Billy Friedkin, Gianni Schicci, Il tabarro, Il Trittico, Puccini, Suor Angelica, Woody Allen
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August 20, 2008 at 4:31 pm
writerchick
LOL - the world just gets more and more ridiculous. Woody Allen can’t even make good films anymore and hasn’t for years - so now he’s tackling opera? Well at least he’s right about one thing, he will suck.
Annie
Yeah, it is kinda funny. If nothing else, it’ll be interesting to see how this “experiment” turns out. :-)
- JOS
August 22, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Eric
I don’t know much about opera but I can’t stand Woody Allen!!! He’s just too weird for me and not funny at all.