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SanFran hires Banksy to stage opera

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norman lebrecht

November 06, 2016

A local graffiti artist known as RETNA has designed the new Aida.

See what you think.

Comments

Steven Holloway says:

November 6, 2016 at 11:47 am

I clicked on this post because of the reference to Banksy. No Banksy, it seems, but still, I’ve now got the exemplar I need to illustrate the meaning of ‘Click-bait’ in my very own Devil’s Dictionary.

Max Grimm says:

November 6, 2016 at 1:15 pm

Norman, ‘Banksy’ is a person and not a synonym for graffiti artists.
“San Fran Hires [RETNA] To Stage Opera” would have garnered clicks just as well, in an attempt to find out what or who ‘RETNA’ is.

Regarding the use of “SANFRAN [sic]”, may I suggest the following read (second paragraph):
https://thebolditalic.com/don-t-call-it-frisco-the-history-of-san-francisco-s-nicknames-the-bold-italic-san-francisco-5c14348d49c#.1t1fkgwq5

Steven Holloway says:

November 6, 2016 at 7:01 pm

At least he didn’t call it ‘Frisco’! (–:

Reply
- Max Grimm says:
  
  November 6, 2016 at 8:23 pm
  
  True.
  And on second thought, you and I may both be wrong about Norman’s headline being incorrect (considering it remains unchanged).
  As Mr. Holmén correctly points out, Banksy’s identity remains unknown. Norman may know more than he’s letting on (‘on good authority’ from one of those infamously informed sources) and might have information that “RETNA” is merely a cover and that Mr. Marquis Lewis, aka RETNA, is in actuality Banksy himself.
  
  Reply
  - Steven Holloway says:
    
    November 7, 2016 at 7:57 pm
    
    Now there’s a thought. Hmmm. If it is in fact Banksy himself, I must think the SFO would have done better to hire him as Director. After all, he’s a film director, and one of his films was nominated for an academy award. He could hardly do worse than some of the directors wreaking havoc in opera houses these days — and he might do a great deal better! I must suspect that he is the antithesis of the ‘primo’ type.
    
    Reply