The shittiest opera ever written

The shittiest opera ever written

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norman lebrecht

February 20, 2020

The veteran Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans, 83, is writing yet another opera for La Monnaie.

Titled On purge bébé, and adapted from a Feydeau farce, the plot revolves around a seven year-old child with constipation and its refusal to accept a purgative.

Premiere in 2022. Don’t all run at once.

We are indebted for this item of light relief to the indisensable forumopera site…

… and for the illustration to the incontinent city of Vienna

Comments

  • Mustafa Kandan says:

    That toilet in Vienna is now replaced with a modern one.

  • Bruce says:

    With any luck, Calixto Bieito will be the director, and he will set it in 18th C. Sweden.

  • Ross Amico says:

    At last, a perfect double-bill with “L’enfant et les sortilèges.”

  • Cubs Fan says:

    Could make for some interesting bassoon parts, ala Beethoven 2nd.

  • Piano Lover says:

    Well at least we will have a different story than most other operas deliver:that is a love affair between X&Y while Z tries to …and so on…this is a common story in operas.
    I must tell you: I HATE OPERAS.

  • CYM says:

    Would be nice to pair it with Monteverdi « L’incoronazione di Poopea » …

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    A perfect metaphor for the US Presidential primaries run by the Democrats.

  • John Borstlap says:

    This is a quite recent Boesmans opera:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LYsoHOuecM

    To be taken light-heartedly, say: the opposite of – for instance – Parsifal.

    Other Boesmaniana:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRrtOuK3EEc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKGdCeKg2nM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaU79Yw_Ctc

    I think it’s very effective theatre music.

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