Fort Worth Opera to Premiere "Before Night Falls" OMG PLEASE LET IT STAR JAVIER BARDEM!!!

Fort Worth Opera's 2010 Festival will boast one of the best movie/book spin-offs we've yet heard: Reinaldo Arenas's "Before Night Falls".

The opera, written and composed by Cuban-American composer Jorge Martín, is based on the the autobiography by the late great Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas.

This isn't the first time that Arenas's book has inspired, as it was the basis of the sumptuous full-of-win film by Opera Chic main man Julian Schnabel, staring omg Javier Bardem (luckily Benicio del Toro dropped out and we got that secksay slab of fillet, Bardem).

For help with the libretto, Martín turned to Dolores M. Koch, close friend of Arenas who also translates his books from Spanish to English.

Darren K. Woods, GM of the FWO, is a frikking genius. We're so looking forward to this, we're already dusting off our Luchese boots for Spring Break, 2010.

Opera Chic's only regret is that our own composer, maestro Carter Burwell, who did such a wonderful, heartbreaking job writing the film's score, has not been hired to take a crack at writing the opera.

Maestro Burwell's website generously allows to download some tracks from his scores. 

In the meantime, Javier Bardem best learn how to sing by Spring 2010, because we're basically not willing to settle for anyone less than the sizzling Spanish actor on that Texan stage.

Comments

[The Real Gay Divorcee]

You are right again, OperaChic, Before Night Falls broke my heart. I'm looking forward to the opera, hoping they don't screw up such a powerful story.

[gesztenye]

YEAHYEAHYEAH, Javier for president!!!! :) or get singing lessons please...

[Miguel]

Bardem staring in the opera version of one of my favorite movies would make me keel over dead. I wouldn't be able to stand the heat! I am really looking forward to this opera. But who could be the lead? Any ideas? I'm dying of curiosity!

The new opera commissions as of late have just been tragic, boring and trite (Shore's The Fly, Ian McEwan's For You, Maazel's 1984, etc...)

So I really hope that all involved can do justice to the gorgeous tale that Schnabel retold in Before Night Falls.

[number five alive]

More like "Before Night Fails". Just kidding, O.C! I think this could be a very successful opera. However, if it flops, I'd like to copyright "Before Night Fails"!

[chansonette]

Bardem was spectacular in the film. I have heard the opera, and it is quite wonderful, but the Arenas role is a killer, so Bardem definitely couldn't manage it, sorry. But I think everyone is in store for a treat, both with the piece, and the casting...