Posted on 12/29/2006 8:22:30 AM PST by Sub-Driver
La Scala nixes opera featuring Bush, Blair dancing in underwear Last Updated: Friday, December 29, 2006 | 10:59 AM ET CBC Arts
An opera production featuring actors depicting U.S. President George W. Bush and other world leaders dancing around in their underwear has been nixed from next summer's lineup at La Scala.
The famed Milanese opera company said in a statement Thursday evening that it has cancelled the nine performances of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, previously scheduled to take the La Scala stage in June and July 2007.
Opera house officials said the decision was made this week after artistic director Stéphane Lissner watched a performance of the opera in Paris, where it has been playing throughout December.
The new production of the satirical operetta, which is based on Voltaire's novella of the same name, includes a scene featuring actors wearing masks of Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Jacques Chirac and former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi. The men dance around, clad in underwear and ties featuring their national flags.
The company decided that the production, directed by Canadian Robert Carsen, "was not in line with La Scala's artistic program."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Mama mia! Atsa no nice!
Ping
I always felt La Scala's operation is a class act. This simply reinforces the feeling.
Although now that I think about it, the possibility that Milan's opera hooligans would boo the Chirac character off the stage for not hitting his notes properly is entertaining to consider.
Apparently it already played in Paris and they want to bring it to Broadway. At least the Italians exercised some common sense. This Robert Carsen guy, director of the Canadian national opera, must be a leftist squish-head of the first order. Sorry, buddy, you'd do better to stick to Verdi.
It is. I've been there, not to see an opera as that's not my style, but it is the premier opera hall in the world and just oozes class.
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At the very least, they ARE wearing underpants! Does Bush get a cowboy hat too? s/
"does anyone really care what goes on in italian opera?
i mean seriously?"
Yes. Me. Next question puhleeeeze........
I fail to see how a musical based on Voltaire would involve Bush and Blair dancing in their underwear.
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