Show Information
Important Information:
Age Restriction is 16 +. Includes extreme language, drug abuse and sexual content.
Booking From:
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Booking Until:
Friday, 4 March 2011
Matinees:
Various Times
Evenings:
Various Times
Running Time:
2 hours 30 minutes
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A young Playboy model, an octogenarian billionaire husband, intrusive media fascination and a tragically early death. This is a roller-coaster of a real contemporary life for a blockbuster of a contemporary opera by the acclaimed opera composer Mark-Anthony Turnage (Greek and The Silver Tassie) and librettist Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: the Opera). The story of Anna Nicole Smith is under the brilliant and idiosyncratic direction of Richard Jones and the baton of Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, to make this a major event of the Royal Opera Season. |
Sex, extreme language and drug abuse are part of the opera - after all, they were ingredients in a life that went from the dubious glamour of the sex symbol, through long and vicious legal struggles to a fatal overdose. How Anna Nicole was treated and how she was viewed is as much a reflection of the society that hounded her as of her own feelings and ambitions - Eva-Maria Westbroek creates what is a challenging and complex central role. This new opera is provocative in its themes, exciting in its bravura style and thrilling with its sheer contemporary nerve. Anna Nicole Smith's life made the news - you can bet this world premiere will too.
Age Restriction is 16 +. Includes extreme language, drug abuse and sexual content.
Anna Nicole, the Opera - Sex and Drugs at the Royal Opera House
The traditional patrons of the Royal Opera House may well wonder if the world hasn't gone mad. Of all modern day characters to feature in an opera, perhaps Anna Nicole Smith would not be on the top of most lists - yet on Feb 17th 2011 the ROH will stage the world premiere of this controversial new production.
Amid warnings of extreme language (think Radio 4), drug abuse and sexual content, Anna Nicole will celebrate the story of this icon of modern celebrity culture.
The performance aims to provide a musical biopic of the troubled and tortured life of Anna Nicole, from her humble upbringing in Texas, to her life as a Playboy model and as the silicon-enhanced wife of a man 63 years her senior.
No sordid details are spared by all accounts, and the director of the show has fought hard with the Royal Opera House to include all the intended scenes within the production, many of which were difficult for the management to sanction. What is promised is a hard-hitting honest portrayal of the life of one of America's most glamorous and tragic public figures of recent times.
There are only 6 performances in total with the final performance on March 4th, so there isn't much time to hang around.
Venue Information
Royal Opera House
Bow Street London,
Latecomers will not be admitted
London
WC2E 9DD
Map