One of my favorites was the operatic adaptation of Henry James “The Turn of the Screw”: The Innocents. Even within an entire auditorium of patrons the hair stood up on the back of my neck as the malevolent spirits from the lake observe the innocents.
I’ve seen bits of it I debated putting it on my list but wavered because it’s a film rather than a traditionally-performed stage production. I didn’t include Phantom for the same reason but there’s arguably a list of filmed horror operas I could do as a sequel!
I saw my first opera last year (arguably a horror opera) and I've been so fascinated ever since. Gonna have to check this one out. There is something about the overblown melodrama of opera that appeals to the repressed Victorian in me 🤣
There's certainly a lot of death! When I was recently working at the Royal Academy of Music as a librettist I asked a few opera makers and they struggled to think of 'horror operas' but I suppose it's because all the violence and gore is hiding in plain sight inside 'romances' and 'tragedies' etc.
I’m guessing your “man pretending to be a dog” will be A DOG’S HEART. Amazing design: at one point the entire stage tilts towards the audience and a lake of “blood” floods into the orchestra pit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Un_xrytw4
Bizarrely, it's actually another opera, but I do compare it with 'A Dog's Heart.' I love the staging, it reminds me of a recent RSC Duchess of Malfi where the stage filled and filled with blood in the second half.
That's so cool, Sydney, you'll have to let me read it when it's finished! Which texts are you focussing on? There were a lot I couldn't include in this series.
Of course, would be more than happy to share once it's done! I had to limit myself to focusing on Salome for now, but I'm hoping to expand to others like Lulu and Sancta Susanna in the future. I'm basically using Creed's monstrous-feminine as a lens to analyse Salome's libretto and a couple different productions. Super excited to see what operas you use for the remainder of the series!!
That sounds brilliant, let me know if you want to talk some time we could record a chat? I will be mentioning Lulu next week (I think...) but not the others.
That would be Der Ring des Nibelungen in a single continuous performance ;)
Old joke, I know.
Haha true though! A terrifying feat
https://substack.com/@dukelott/note/c-110537866?r=5h1xth&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
One of my favorites was the operatic adaptation of Henry James “The Turn of the Screw”: The Innocents. Even within an entire auditorium of patrons the hair stood up on the back of my neck as the malevolent spirits from the lake observe the innocents.
It’s on my list! I’d love to see it live
Have you seen the film, "Repo! The Genetic Opera"?
I’ve seen bits of it I debated putting it on my list but wavered because it’s a film rather than a traditionally-performed stage production. I didn’t include Phantom for the same reason but there’s arguably a list of filmed horror operas I could do as a sequel!
I saw my first opera last year (arguably a horror opera) and I've been so fascinated ever since. Gonna have to check this one out. There is something about the overblown melodrama of opera that appeals to the repressed Victorian in me 🤣
It feels so naturally gothic, doesn't it? And Dracula is basically dressed for the opera in that black cape...
Having never seen an opera, I imagined that all of them had some horror elements to them.
There's certainly a lot of death! When I was recently working at the Royal Academy of Music as a librettist I asked a few opera makers and they struggled to think of 'horror operas' but I suppose it's because all the violence and gore is hiding in plain sight inside 'romances' and 'tragedies' etc.
I’m guessing your “man pretending to be a dog” will be A DOG’S HEART. Amazing design: at one point the entire stage tilts towards the audience and a lake of “blood” floods into the orchestra pit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Un_xrytw4
Bizarrely, it's actually another opera, but I do compare it with 'A Dog's Heart.' I love the staging, it reminds me of a recent RSC Duchess of Malfi where the stage filled and filled with blood in the second half.
Currently writing a dissertation on the intersection of opera and horror, so absolutely adored this!! Such an insane overlap
That's so cool, Sydney, you'll have to let me read it when it's finished! Which texts are you focussing on? There were a lot I couldn't include in this series.
Of course, would be more than happy to share once it's done! I had to limit myself to focusing on Salome for now, but I'm hoping to expand to others like Lulu and Sancta Susanna in the future. I'm basically using Creed's monstrous-feminine as a lens to analyse Salome's libretto and a couple different productions. Super excited to see what operas you use for the remainder of the series!!
That sounds brilliant, let me know if you want to talk some time we could record a chat? I will be mentioning Lulu next week (I think...) but not the others.
Yea absolutely, would love to! If you want to shoot me a message we can figure something out :)