Mo Willems’ hilarious image e-book “Do not Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” celebrated its twentieth anniversary lately. In honor of this milestone, Willems and famend opera singer Renée Fleming collaborated to rework the story right into a comedic family-friendly opera on the Kennedy Heart in Washington, D.C. Willems, who initially had no expertise with opera, found that each opera and film books focus on highly effective feelings. The opera, titled “The Ice Cream Truck Is Damaged! & Different Emotional Arias,” debuted to an viewers that was inspired to actively take part within the efficiency. By breaking among the typical norms of classical music, and making folks chuckle, Willems and Fleming aimed to make the opera extra accessible and pleasing for attendees of all ages.
This excellent NPR interview with Willems and Fleming is unquestionably price a pay attention.
Really feel the enjoyment of taking part in with 10,000 puppies via the music of Verdi, the despair of not having ice cream via Leoncavallo, and the anger and frustration of not with the ability to journey a motorbike via Mozart. And—as a particular bonus for the night—take pleasure in a world premiere efficiency of the brand new WNO fee, Do not Let the Pigeon Sing Up Late!, composed by Kennedy Heart Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon and that includes The Pigeon’s dramatic operatic debut.
