Wow, who isnt working in opera these days? The Guardian Unlimited reports that excessively prolific septuagenarian Woody Allen has signed on to direct a one-act opera as part of the Los Angeles 2008 opera season.
"I have no idea what I am doing," Allen said in a statement. "But incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm."
The opera, which is part of Puccinis Il Trittico trio of one-act operas, is titled Gianni Schicchi. The other two parts of the trilogy are to be directed by film legend William Friedkin, who is most famous for his '70s films The French Connection and The Exorcist, before he slid into a horrific rut (he would eventually crap out Jade, Sliver, and Bug). It seems that Plácido Domingo, famed tenor and current director of the LA Opera, has been hard at work pursuing film directors to work in opera; supposedly it took him four years to convince Allen to take on the project.
Gianni Schicchi, set in medieval Florence, is Puccini's only comedy, and will be directed by Allen in September next year.
"To have Woody Allen direct Gianni Schicchi is a match made in heaven," Friedkin said.
Not usually known for being a traditionalist, it makes you wonder what Allen will do with an opera in his hands. I might like to see him reference his 1966 classic Whats up, Tiger Lily?. He could cast himself opposite Diane Keaton and overdub the singing. I might actually pay to see that.
Aaron_Lariviere said:
Not usually known for being a traditionalist, it makes you wonder what Allen will do with an opera in his hands. I might like to see him reference his 1966 classic What's up, Tiger Lily?. He could cast himself opposite Diane Keaton... and overdub the singing? I might actually pay to see that.
I see Allen as quite traditionalist as a filmmaker, personally. Not so much at the start of his career, but most of his comedies of the last decade like Small Time Crooks or Hollywood Ending have been very classically oriented in tone and structure, especially compared with the current generation's approach. I wouldn't say he's done anything especially unconventional since maybe Broadway Danny Rose.
He is traditional in the sense that some of his films harken back to classic cinema. I guess I was referring to how his films often seem out of step with current times. I probably should have just called him unconventional. Alas.
Aaron_Lariviere
Los Angeles, CA
May 2007
JUN 22, 2007 11:31 AM