Punk-Loving Priest Plans Least Watchable Rock Opera Of All Time

Sometimes, you only need one zinger of an opening sentence to reel ‘em in. Case in point:

The Vatican has challenged purist Roman Catholics by disclosing plans for a daring rock, punk and jazz opera version of Dante’s Divine Comedy with a soundtrack written by an avant-garde priest.

Monsignor Marco Frisina uses rock music as background for the Inferno, Gregorian chants for Purgatory and lyrical and symphonic classical and modern music for the advent of Paradise in the musical set to be staged in the autumn…

Rehearsals are due to start at the end of this month, meaning that the casting for actors to play Dante, Virgil and Beatrice should be disclosed imminently.

Hmmm. An actress who can sing, and who loves Dante. We have one candidate in mind, but casting her would require a lot of disambiguation.

Vatican plans punk version of Divine Comedy [Independent Online]

 
HISTORY OF OPERA | Full Issue
... in Shades of F-Major: Opera 101 for those who think they hate opera
Opera
Aida’ at the Metropolitan Opera
One of the most manipulative moments in opera occurs in Act II of Verdi’s “Aida,” when the jealous Princess Amneris tricks Aida into revealing her love for the warrior Radamès. The mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, who made her house role ...
Camilla Williams, Barrier-Breaking Opera Star, Dies at 92
On May 15, 1946, an unknown singer named Camilla Williams took the stage at City Center in Manhattan as Cio-Cio-San, the doomed heroine of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” Her performance would be the capstone of a night of glorious firsts.



 
  1. Ned Raggett  |   Posted on Jan 4th, 2007

    They didn’t commission Diamanda Galas? FOOLS.

  2. PengIn  |   Posted on Jan 4th, 2007

    Rock music represents the Inferno? Stryper must be bummed.

Leave a Reply

Sign In Login