The Royal Opera has been both noisy and evasive about Mark-Anthony Turnage’s new opera, Anna Nicole, with words by Richard Thomas of Jerry Springer: the Opera notoriety.
The Royal Opera has been both noisy and evasive about Mark-Anthony Turnage’s new opera, Anna Nicole, with words by Richard Thomas of Jerry Springer: the Opera notoriety. I have never seen and heard so much advance publicity, for any arts event whatever, and yet, apart from telling us that it was to be about the eponymous celebrity, there was very little about the piece that could actually be called information.
There seemed something reflexive about the whole operation, endless articles and interviews, but a void at the centre, which is exactly and obviously what celebrity culture is. The impression was confirmed when, turning up early to read the programme, since the Royal Opera had embargoed even a synopsis of the opera on its website, I watched one weirdly dressed person after another being interviewed and photographed in the foyer, as they held their complimentary drinks; I imagine they were moderate celebrities who had been persuaded to take an interest in the latest example of radical aesthetic chic.
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