Blur Star Albarn Premieres Opera In Oasis's Backyard
It has been interpreted by some as an Essex boy's ultimate act of revenge on his old Mancunian rivals. Damon Albarn, whose feuding with Manchester's Oasis was legendary back in the 1990s, takes centre stage in the Gallagher brothers' own back yard tomorrow night when the premiere of his first opera launches the inaugural Manchester International Festival.
But Albarn's opera, which is based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King's enlightenment and premieres at the city's Palace Theatre, has been inspired by something far bigger than settling old scores. It is the centrepiece of a biennial festival featuring only original and new work which, for pure modernity and pizzazz, has given the Edinburgh International Festival's new director, Jonathan Mills, much to think about even before the first curtain goes up.
Manchester's own festival director, Alex Poots, knows a bit about innovation, having taken the English National Opera to sing Wagner at Glastonbury in his last job but getting Albarn to write Monkey: Journey to the West was audacious. Albarn has been to only one opera in his life - Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, directed by Shi-Zheng, the director and original conceiver of the new work.
But Monkey: Journey to the West promises to be one of the great cultural spectaculars of the year, building on a story made famous by the 1980s cult television show Monkey. Although it will travel to a number of international cities, Manchester will be its only UK venue.
Source: www.independent.co.uk
But Albarn's opera, which is based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King's enlightenment and premieres at the city's Palace Theatre, has been inspired by something far bigger than settling old scores. It is the centrepiece of a biennial festival featuring only original and new work which, for pure modernity and pizzazz, has given the Edinburgh International Festival's new director, Jonathan Mills, much to think about even before the first curtain goes up.
Manchester's own festival director, Alex Poots, knows a bit about innovation, having taken the English National Opera to sing Wagner at Glastonbury in his last job but getting Albarn to write Monkey: Journey to the West was audacious. Albarn has been to only one opera in his life - Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, directed by Shi-Zheng, the director and original conceiver of the new work.
But Monkey: Journey to the West promises to be one of the great cultural spectaculars of the year, building on a story made famous by the 1980s cult television show Monkey. Although it will travel to a number of international cities, Manchester will be its only UK venue.
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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