“bebe zahara benet” was already taken, alas
At last we know the identity of the eponymous heroine of Rufus Wainwright‘s maiden effort as opera composer. The aging Prima Donna who is strugging “to regain her status as a top-flight soprano on the world stages” s’appelle Régine Saint Laurent. If ever a name screamed, “cover girl, put the bass in your walk,” surely “Régine Saint Laurent” is it!
15- I think, with some competition, that may be your most incomprehensible post ever. Come again?
Maria Richardo (Mary Richards, haha!) I lived in Minneapolis for many years. Does Bebe perform at the 90s?
armerjacquino – LOL. I’ve learned to do a quick scroll past certain posts, thus avoiding headaches.
Régine Saint Laurent, is it?
Well,…
Tenor/love interest: Bergdorf du Papillon Guerlain
Mezzo/foil: Chanel #2
Bass/night cream: Englishman of St. Martin
Baritone/waste of a voice: Rufus con Queso de Madrid i Quebec
Cher Ortrud, why yes, Mme. Benet was a regular cast member of the 90s but now her schedule has gone totally pear-shaped since…well, you know.
So, do you still live in the land of Spoonbridge & Cherry?
When I was 12 and thought I was going to be the next Stephen Sondheim, I wrote a musical whose leading lady was named Vivienne Verne. I thought the name was fabulous and congratulated my pre-adolescent self on being so clever and…well, fabulous. Of course the thing was a piece of poo, and I abandoned it when I discovered boys. From all I’ve read, this incipient –and probably insipid — opus reminds me of my aborted masterpiece…only poor Rufus ain’t 12. And he’s certainly not the next Stephen Sondheim. I’d venture to guess he’s not even the next John Corigliano.
amerjacquino, come on, now. :if someone ( Perfidia) makes a statement ‘that Wainwight seems to care for classical music’ is that…. any less incomprehensible? Ask fans of Phantom of the Opera or soccer fans that love Nessun Dorma and you will probably get the same self claim being made by those people. Today we are going through more political correctness bullshit. This time, by trying to protect pop artists , those branching out into musical derivative classical pursuits ‘making a dollar’. While people are willing to entertain such charlatan diversions, other worthy dedicated serious composers get pushed aside.If I am correct in Paris there are storehouses containing 2800 operas that have never seen the light of day. I am sure there are hidden masterpieces amongst even a very small number of them. Then there are the operas we readily know that are worthy yet never get performed. OH yes we are ‘desperate’ for a Wainwight ‘noise-operette’ I don’t think! Such a route is farcical.
What’s Wainwight opera going to be finally called? Not surely ‘Muriel’s Magic Moving Fashion Murals on the Catwalk in Technicolor and Black & White’. Though such a pretentious long winded title would impress the gullible clots that like to trumpet they are in, with the imaginary ‘in / now’ crowd.
The drummer for “The Police” wrote and opera. It sank into oblivion. Jose Cano, a great pop composer from Spain, wrote an opera called “Luna.” It has wonderful numbers, especially a beautiful vocalise done by Rene Fleming in the CD, and a great song Teresa Berganza does with a shred of voice that breaks your heart (for the right reasons). It sank into oblivion. I have very little doubt Wainwright’s opus will suffer the same fate. I am always optimistic we might get another “Porgy and Bess”, but I am not holding my breath. I am also for musicians trying t extend themselves. Hopefully, it will make them better. Opera should not be treated like a sacred relic that is kept under glass and we worship. As I said before, the three tenors and their ilk have done more damage to opera that Wainwright ever will. Just like so many others, his work will not survive critical scrutiny. However, we are saying the effects of the “popularization of opera” brought by the three tenors when we turn to PBS. I wonder how many of us would have derided Gershwin for daring to write and opera? I am not equating Wainwright to Gershwin, but this rending of garments over him writing some trifle seems a bit much. Now, I wouldn’t argue against anyone who thinks “Phantom of the Opera” is one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse but that, just as whether or not one thinks Wainwright should be writing an opera, is a matter of taste.
Dear Harry- nice to see some things never change- like the charity of the Ayatollah’s and you taking the same ol pills.