Woody Allen to Make Opera Directorial Debut in '08

Variety reports that Oscar-winning film legend Woody Allen will make his first foray into the opera world in fall of 2008.

Allen, whose newest film Cassandra's Dream will be unveiled at the Venice Film Festival later this summer, will direct Puccini's one comedic opera, Gianni Schicchi (with which Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica is part of the composer's Il Trittico) at the Los Angeles Opera.  "Set in medieval Florence, the opera depicts a farcical family squabble, as the survivors of a wealthy gentleman persuade Gianni Schicchi to pose as the deceased and rewrite his will in their favor," as Gianni Schicchi is described in the article.  It will open on September 6th, 2008. 

Placido Domingo, the general director of the L.A. opera, stated that he was able to secure Allen's talents only after a long wooing period. ""I've seduced many a film director into directing opera...I will admit that my pursuit of Woody takes the prize of the longest pursuit."  Allen, in typical fashion, remarked: "I have no idea what I am doing, but incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm." 

Howard Shore's operatic adaptation of The Fly, helmed by the director of its 1986 film remake, David Cronenberg, opens September 7th, 2008 - a day after Il Trittico.

An Oscar-winner for writing and directing Annie Hall and for his Hannah and Her Sisters screenplay, Allen is the author of the Broadway plays Don't Drink the Water, Play It Again, Sam and The Floating Light Bulb.  Known for his wittily neurotic persona and skill with both comedic and dramatic films, Allen's acclaimed body of work includes Sleeper, Take the Money and Run, Bananas, Love and Death, Interiors, Manhattan, Stardust Memories, Zelig, Broadway Danny Rose, The Purple Rose of Cairo, September, Husbands and Wives, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Bullets Over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Sweet and Lowdown, Hollywood Ending, Melinda and Melinda, Match Point and Scoop.

Photo by Linda Lenzi