Royal Opera House Creates Performance About Anna Nicole Smith
The notion of an opera based on the late American actress Anna Nicole Smith- one of the biggest sex symbols of our generation whose antics had made her the joke of the Hollywood, seems like a poor idea for doing something unique. And that coming from a major entity like Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, makes one wonder the reason behind such a choice for the show protagonist.
However, when the opera titled ‘Anna Nicole’ finally premiered at the Royal Opera in front of a full room crowd, the show ended up to be a highly engrossing, intensely entertaining affair, illustrating the life story of the controversial celebrity in a very touching way. The idea which raised many an eyebrows, proved to be an all out winner for the Covent Garden.
It was observed that the Anna Nicole-based opera, an idea which seemed a complete mismatch on first sight, in truth was a dead-on one from a technical standpoint. Anna Nicole’s life had numerous collaborative art forms in it and that is what opera is all about.
Songwriter Mark-Anthony Turnage’s jazz-influenced modern music gave the show a rhythm tic, but very wild score, completely resembling the story of Anna Nicole. Librettist Richard Thomas- the other half of the musical creators, also made a clever use of his libretto skills, which synthesized in with Turnage’s work. The conductor Antonio Pappano, who is also a jazz follower just like Turnage, coaxed a thrilling, but precise sound from the orchestra.
The main character is played by Eva-Maria Westbroek, whose first on-stage sight makes the crowd think that it is the real Anna Nicole on whom they have set their eyes. The blond haired Westbroek’s role is peppered with melodic dialogues, and decorated with Anna Nicole-like loss of control over her emotions. Her performance in the opera should be considered nothing less than exceptional and commanding.
Turnage and Thomas’ selection of operatic characters were well-admired by the singers as well as the cast of the opera, evident by the boisterous standing ovation that the audience gave to the cast at the end of the show.
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