Theatre Opera about Walt Disney

Tom Morrow · 09-30-2008, 03:51 PM

New opera about Walt Disney

New York City Opera commissions Philip Glass to compose an opera based on the life of Walt Disney

NYC Opera
New York City Opera is commissioning Philip Glass to compose a new opera, The Perfect American which imaginatively explores the life and career of Walt Disney. Based on the recent novel Der König von Amerika (translated into English as The Perfect American) by Peter Stephan Jungk, the piece presents a multilayered image of the mid-20th-century American dream.

The opera is scheduled to open City Opera’s 2012-2013 season. The world premiere of this work, the 24th opera by Philip Glass, will honor the 75th birthday of the distinguished composer, whose association with City Opera dates back to the 1980s.

“The story of the last days of Walt Disney, American Icon and creator of perhaps the most pervasive fantasy world on our planet, is surprisingly gripping and at times disturbing. But, on the face of it, how could it be anything else? The pulse of his life has to be the pulse of our own American culture.” stated Philip Glass.
pressroom

complete press release

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TimmyII · 09-30-2008, 04:23 PM

Opera....about Walt Disney. Thanks, but I'll pass on this one.

Jezebel · 09-30-2008, 04:23 PM

this looks like something that I'd think I'd fork over money to see just for it being about Walt Disney.For rare is it to see the man shown in such a way.. this definitely seems interesting and I'll be sure to keep looking out for it in the next 4 years. I think it sound great. though I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the opera. the man doesn't get enough credit IMO. though a Biopic would be nice....hmmm

PeterPirate&CaptainCrook · 09-30-2008, 05:29 PM

this sounds really neat! This is def something that I am going to really look forward to learning more about and hopefully seeing at some point.

i think it would be cool to play him! :)

mickeylover2008 · 09-30-2008, 05:49 PM

Opera?! Eww. How about a MUSICAL! Now THAT I can see.

Wisher · 09-30-2008, 05:59 PM

Um... what does one say? This sounds like... yeah. I don't know.

*sings* The Diiiiiisney of the opera is there... inside my mind!

austen · 09-30-2008, 09:20 PM

idk.. might be kinda cool.. might be a total failure. But definatly intresting.

spacedest · 09-30-2008, 11:39 PM

This sounds really weird. It also sounds neat at the same time.

Under_Cover_Pirate · 10-01-2008, 11:38 AM

I not sure Walt would want to have an Opera done about his life.. A movie, maybe so.. But a Opera may not go over to well.. I think in a movie you can recapture the Magic of Disney.

One Swell Bear · 10-01-2008, 01:42 PM

Opera huh? Intresting.... not as good as a movie, but I guess it will do.

Wedbliss · 10-01-2008, 02:03 PM

Phillip Glass is an interesting composer. This won't be like a Verdi or Wagner opera. I'm sure it will sound very modern. I can't quite picture how the finished product will be, but I am curious to find out.

The article mentions this will be about the last days of Walt's life and uses the words "disturbing" and "frightening". That is both intriguing and, well, disturbing and frightening. I wonder how the Disney family feels about this?

Walt singing? That's different to be sure.

While I am curious about this project, the more I think about it the more odd it seems. A "disturbing" opera about the end of Walt's life doesn't exactly sound like a crowd pleaser.

Edit:

I just read a review of the book "The Perfect American" on which this project is to be based. It sounds like another attempt to deflate an American icon. I know that Walt wasn't perfect, he had his faults like anyone else. But his achievments cannot be denied. Walt will always be my hero despite any shortcomings he may have possessed.

If you dig deeply enough into the life of any artist, thinker, historical figure, etc, you can find things which make it seem like we should never hold ANYONE in high regard. I can't give in to that type of thinking.

pdxoracle · 10-01-2008, 10:16 PM

Phillip Glass is an incredibly talented composer and visionary. In fact, he is one of the forces responsible for moving opera from it's melodramatic roots to a more moderns style; as such, I believe he's a well-informed choice. I'm a big fan of all performing arts, and I think something so creative and inspirational as opera would be a perfect tribute.

- EDIT -
The previous post hinted that this may be a deflation of an icon... well, the truth is, not much has been written about him that wasn't a saccharine-sweet story of inspiration, and no person on this earth ever lived a perfect life. The 'deflation' of an icon, in my opinion, is truly a positive thing. It shows our hero's humanity and, in turn, causes us to look into ourselves and ask the question, "Why aren't I an icon too?" A valid question.

Disneyknight467 · 10-02-2008, 08:50 PM

This will be...uh...different...

CostaFreak · 10-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Can anybody say Epic Fail?

elizabethsparrow · 10-03-2008, 10:25 AM

Musical, yes. Opera, no. I'm not too keen on this idea.

09-30-2008, 04:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
TimmyII Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 1,013 Images: 6 My Mood:	Opera....about Walt Disney. Thanks, but I'll pass on this one. __________________ TimmyII -- Former Disneyland Cast Member 1996-2001 Department 384 "Disneyland is not just another amusement park...Disneyland is a show!" - Walt Disney My Countdown Counting down to: My trip to Disneyland Paris! 190 days 5 hours 2 minutes

09-30-2008, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jezebel The Goddess of Dole Whip Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Space Between Spaces Posts: 120 My Mood:	this looks like something that I'd think I'd fork over money to see just for it being about Walt Disney.For rare is it to see the man shown in such a way.. this definitely seems interesting and I'll be sure to keep looking out for it in the next 4 years. I think it sound great. though I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the opera. the man doesn't get enough credit IMO. though a Biopic would be nice....hmmm __________________ The world will look up and shout save us and I'll whisper...No

09-30-2008, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
PeterPirate&CaptainCrook PeterPirate&CaptainCrook Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 13 My Mood:	this sounds really neat! This is def something that I am going to really look forward to learning more about and hopefully seeing at some point. i think it would be cool to play him! :) __________________ Bring Back Vault Disney!

09-30-2008, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
mickeylover2008 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: California Posts: 35 My Mood:	Opera?! Eww. How about a MUSICAL! Now THAT I can see. __________________ My Countdown Counting down to: My Christmas Disneyland Trip! 13 days 22 hours 2 minutes

09-30-2008, 05:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wisher Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 360 My Mood:	Um... what does one say? This sounds like... yeah. I don't know. sings The Diiiiiisney of the opera is there... inside my mind! __________________ Do you remember your imagination?

09-30-2008, 09:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
austen Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: bakersfield Posts: 595 My Mood:	idk.. might be kinda cool.. might be a total failure. But definatly intresting. __________________ "Do you remember the night,When the sky was so dark and the moon shone so bright? When a million small children pretending to sleep Nearly didn't have Christmas at all, so to speak? And would, if you could, turn that mighty clock back, To that long, fateful night. Now, think carefully, Jack. Would you do the whole thing all over again, Knowing what you know now, knowing what you knew then?"

09-30-2008, 11:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
spacedest Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 92 Images: 2 My Mood:	This sounds really weird. It also sounds neat at the same time.

10-01-2008, 11:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Under_Cover_Pirate Take what you can! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oakland, CA. Posts: 9 My Mood:	I not sure Walt would want to have an Opera done about his life.. A movie, maybe so.. But a Opera may not go over to well.. I think in a movie you can recapture the Magic of Disney.

10-01-2008, 01:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
One Swell Bear Fresh from the Jungle Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: I'm not authorized to answer that! Posts: 135 My Mood:	Opera huh? Intresting.... not as good as a movie, but I guess it will do. __________________ You've been deducted 50 Schrutebucks!!

10-01-2008, 02:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Wedbliss Yes, I'm a Viffer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 326 My Mood:	Phillip Glass is an interesting composer. This won't be like a Verdi or Wagner opera. I'm sure it will sound very modern. I can't quite picture how the finished product will be, but I am curious to find out. The article mentions this will be about the last days of Walt's life and uses the words "disturbing" and "frightening". That is both intriguing and, well, disturbing and frightening. I wonder how the Disney family feels about this? Walt singing? That's different to be sure. While I am curious about this project, the more I think about it the more odd it seems. A "disturbing" opera about the end of Walt's life doesn't exactly sound like a crowd pleaser. Edit: I just read a review of the book "The Perfect American" on which this project is to be based. It sounds like another attempt to deflate an American icon. I know that Walt wasn't perfect, he had his faults like anyone else. But his achievments cannot be denied. Walt will always be my hero despite any shortcomings he may have possessed. If you dig deeply enough into the life of any artist, thinker, historical figure, etc, you can find things which make it seem like we should never hold ANYONE in high regard. I can't give in to that type of thinking. __________________ Come join us! (You must be 18 years of age or older) My Countdown Counting down to: 2009 29 days 22 hours 2 minutes Last edited by Wedbliss; 10-01-2008 at 02:31 PM.

10-01-2008, 10:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
pdxoracle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gresham, Oregon; a small area outside of Portland. Home of former Miss America Katie Harmon. Posts: 10 My Mood:	Phillip Glass is an incredibly talented composer and visionary. In fact, he is one of the forces responsible for moving opera from it's melodramatic roots to a more moderns style; as such, I believe he's a well-informed choice. I'm a big fan of all performing arts, and I think something so creative and inspirational as opera would be a perfect tribute. - EDIT - The previous post hinted that this may be a deflation of an icon... well, the truth is, not much has been written about him that wasn't a saccharine-sweet story of inspiration, and no person on this earth ever lived a perfect life. The 'deflation' of an icon, in my opinion, is truly a positive thing. It shows our hero's humanity and, in turn, causes us to look into ourselves and ask the question, "Why aren't I an icon too?" A valid question. __________________ Defying Gravity since New Year's Day, 1982.

10-02-2008, 08:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
Disneyknight467 Tomorrowlander Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Salinas Posts: 647 My Mood:	This will be...uh...different... __________________ "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future." -Walt Disney -Daft Punk Rockin' Tomorrowland, Make it Happen! -Next Disneyland Trip: Summer 2009; Last Disneyland Trip: August 7-9th 2008

10-02-2008, 08:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
CostaFreak Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Your Mind Posts: 408 My Mood:	Can anybody say Epic Fail? __________________ I've lost my mind. Isn't that great?

10-03-2008, 10:25 AM	#15 (permalink)
elizabethsparrow We wants the redhead. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alhambra, CA Posts: 296 Images: 21 My Mood:	Musical, yes. Opera, no. I'm not too keen on this idea. __________________ Come join us! (You must be 18 years of age or older)

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