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CNN Live At Daybreak
Look at Shock Opera
Aired January 07, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sticking with music, think opera today and perhaps you think of Wagner, Verdi and tales of love.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, but the shock opera is captivating fans in London with none of those guys. One of the newest productions will be about the "Jerry Springer Show."
VAUSE: Oh, God.
COSTELLO: CNN's Robyn Curnow takes a look and a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Auditions for the Jerry Springer Opera. That's right, the Jerry Springer opera, based on the television talk show which has explored topics such as I married a horse and I refused to wear clothes. The opera, when it debuts at London's prestigious Royal National Theater this year, will feature swearing louts, a chorus line of dancing Ku Klux Klansman and a man wearing a diaper.
JAMES INVERNE, "TIME" MAGAZINE ARTS CRITIC: I really think that opera houses mostly, first and foremost, need to be proactive about going out and getting new audiences. The "Jerry Springer Show" has done that very well. So maybe we'll see a whole line of imitators there, Oprah Winfrey, Rickie Lake. Maybe Rickie Lake could sing her own part, who knows?
CURNOW: Who'd have known or guessed that there was an O.J. Simpson opera, or a made for television opera on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales? Or even a Jackie Onasis opera? Art imitating life.
(on camera): Operas have always dealt with society's larger themes -- love, death, power, corruption and scandal. Updating opera can seem shocking to some, but if it's done well, it can make opera more relevant for today's audiences.
(voice-over): But some are critical of producers, who are accused of shocking just for the sake of it.
ASH KHANDEKAR, CRITIC: And there was a situation at English National Opera where the curtain went up and there were 14 people sitting on toilets across the stage. And now that in itself was a shocking image. But whether it really makes sense in the context of the opera, which was a 19th century opera by Verdi, really remains to be seen. CURNOW: Shocking tactics or outrageous themes do get press attention and people talking, which can mean more tickets are sold.
Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 7, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sticking with music, think opera today and perhaps you think of Wagner, Verdi and tales of love.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, but the shock opera is captivating fans in London with none of those guys. One of the newest productions will be about the "Jerry Springer Show."
VAUSE: Oh, God.
COSTELLO: CNN's Robyn Curnow takes a look and a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Auditions for the Jerry Springer Opera. That's right, the Jerry Springer opera, based on the television talk show which has explored topics such as I married a horse and I refused to wear clothes. The opera, when it debuts at London's prestigious Royal National Theater this year, will feature swearing louts, a chorus line of dancing Ku Klux Klansman and a man wearing a diaper.
JAMES INVERNE, "TIME" MAGAZINE ARTS CRITIC: I really think that opera houses mostly, first and foremost, need to be proactive about going out and getting new audiences. The "Jerry Springer Show" has done that very well. So maybe we'll see a whole line of imitators there, Oprah Winfrey, Rickie Lake. Maybe Rickie Lake could sing her own part, who knows?
CURNOW: Who'd have known or guessed that there was an O.J. Simpson opera, or a made for television opera on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales? Or even a Jackie Onasis opera? Art imitating life.
(on camera): Operas have always dealt with society's larger themes -- love, death, power, corruption and scandal. Updating opera can seem shocking to some, but if it's done well, it can make opera more relevant for today's audiences.
(voice-over): But some are critical of producers, who are accused of shocking just for the sake of it.
ASH KHANDEKAR, CRITIC: And there was a situation at English National Opera where the curtain went up and there were 14 people sitting on toilets across the stage. And now that in itself was a shocking image. But whether it really makes sense in the context of the opera, which was a 19th century opera by Verdi, really remains to be seen. CURNOW: Shocking tactics or outrageous themes do get press attention and people talking, which can mean more tickets are sold.
Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
