Congratulations to America’s Diva and Toastmaster General Renée Fleming, who once more is demonstrating her commitment to contemporary music by starring in the world premiere of Henri Dutilleux‘s opera buffa Absolutely Fabulous, in the role of fashionista “Patsy Stone.”  

La Fleming gets a rare chance to display her gift for physical comedy in the farcical work when party girl Patsy blacks out in a stranger’s flat and wakes up the next morning unable to find her clothes! Clad only in a duvet cover, she attempts to stumble home through a grimy Underground tunnel (above) before collapsing on the London docks (below).

A musical highlight is Patsy’s desperate patter song as she tries to figure out what time it is and realizes she has lost her watch (“Le temps! L’horloge!”)

Photos: © Decca/Andrew Eccles