Dearest Sybaritic Faithful, I know that it has been too long since my last dispatch from the land of high b’s and audition pleas. But, the gang is all here and we are ready to let the commentary roll.
The words “rock” and “opera” usually only meet under very kitschy, “first-date” like circumstances. It is rumored that “rock opera” was born of a Pete Townshend party in 1966. One of the guests commented that an odd comedy tape being played was something of a “rock opera.” Lo and behold, a year later The Who released “A Quick One, While He’s Away,” their first attempt at the genre to become “rock opera.”
Skip to 2010 and we not only have rock opera, metal opera, and the occasional hip-hopera; we have rock with opera. For the recent Operanation VII, Cinderella: Rock the Ball, the Canadian Opera Company teamed up with the band Broken Social Scene to present an opera ball like none you have probably ever attended. To give the event even more contemporary eclectic presence, Clara Venice was on the scene. Venice is known for her quirky, cabaret-influenced performances which employ voice, theremin, electric violin, and samples.
Broken Social Scene actually teamed up with COC’s rising stars giving indie rock makeovers to well-known opera favorites.
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members. All of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto.
Canadian Opera Company is obviously putting out the bait to lure young, urban professionals into their fine arts lair. But, really, who doesn’t want to fill their social calendar with inspirational venues, must-attend fundraisers, and evocative musical performances?
Be sure to check out the Pitchfork article below to see a pair of videos from the event.
What do you think?
Would you buy pricey opera gala tickets if the apprentice artists were teaming up with big name bands and indie acts?
Is this a sleight of hand to get the hipper-than-thou crowd interested in opera?
Are they already interested in opera?
Bare your soul in the comments below…
Related Articles
- Watch Broken Social Scene Play With Opera Singers (pitchfork.com)
- Broken Social Scene to put rock spin on opera favourites at COC fundraiser (theglobeandmail.com)
- COC Now In The Standing Room Club (netnewmusic.net)
