Friday, January 21, 2005

Elvis Costello Opera: Lind Me a Hans

Elvis Costello is working on an opera. Here's the story from mercurynews.com:

Elvis Costello is creating an opera based on Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen's impossible romance with a Swedish woman. "The Secret Arias" is based on songs written by Andersen for Jenny Lind, a soprano dubbed the "Swedish Nightingale," whom the Dane pined for, despite her never returning his affections, said Henrik Engelbrecht, head of dramaturgy at the Royal Theater.

"Elvis immediately loved the idea and when we met him 18 months ago to discuss it, he had already a clear idea about the opera," Engelbrecht told The Associated Press on Thursday. It is believed that Andersen wrote his tale "The Nightingale" with Lind in mind. The work will open in 2006 in the new opera house's small experimental stage that can seat 200. The cast hasn't yet been decided. After Copenhagen, "The Secret Arias" likely will go on an international tour, Engelbrecht said, and be released as a CD and DVD.


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