Kanye West has written an opera

Kanye West has written an opera

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norman lebrecht

November 18, 2019

Posters are going up around Los Angeles for an opera by the US rapper Kanye West.

The title is Nebuchadnezzar, previously treated by Giuseppe Verdi.

Invitations have been issued via Twitter.

 


Va, pensiero.

And let us know afterwards if it was anything like this.

 

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    Very unlikely that Mr West knows what ‘opera’ means. These people need a dictionary.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivCY3Ec4iaU

  • Novagerio says:

    Why is Domingo on the picture? Is the role written to him?

  • Nik says:

    From Forbes magazine: “The most obvious question some may have, though, is: why Nebuchadnezzar?”
    Er no, sorry. That question is nowhere near the top of my list in this case.

  • Ed says:

    Lin-Manuel Miranda beat him to the punch with Hamilton, essentially a hip-hop opera. Miranda is a much better wordsmith and dramatist. Kayne is merely an entertainer, at best.

    • Palestrina Nerd says:

      Indeed; looking beyond the hype, Miranda’s Hamilton is masterful in concept, narrative depth, and keen use of motivic development. Very much a modern analogue to a Da Ponte opera (as many have already said).

      Looking beyond the hype, West has demonstrated a very keen sense for marketing, a bizarre cult of personality, and a drum machine.

      Perhaps this will be totally brilliant – there’s always a chance. For me personally though, like many of you, there are many, many entire discographies my listening life has yet to absorb that take precedence.

  • Karl says:

    Is it a hip hopera? I hope he didn’t try to compose a traditional opera.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Pass.

  • Spamalot says:

    no one goes to the Bowl in November!

  • Lydia Wahlberg says:

    What is wrong with this country? Important events are occurring and we have to endure the self-important actions of Kanye West and the Kardashians.
    Why even mention that this musical nobody wrote an opera? Maybe if we don’t show interest, they will get the picture that they are nothing but fools.

  • Antonio says:

    Kanye West’s talent on full display…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwN6dPNXklg

    Apologies to anyone who is left traumatized by this video.

  • Brian. says:

    The Racism in these Comments is Halarieous!

  • Greg Bottini says:

    “Posters are going up around Los Angeles for an opera by the US rapper Kanye West.
    The title is Nebuchadnezzar, previously treated by Giuseppe Verdi.
    Invitations have been issued via Twitter.”
    Previously treated by Giuseppe Verdi…. I laughed out loud for five minutes at this perfectly placed, exquisitely droll line.
    Thanks, Norman, for brightening up my evening!

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