Composer Jake Heggie’s recent box lunch briefing on “Moby-Dick” has generated another story. This one is particularly worth checking out because KERA’s Jerome Weeks has given us the opportunity to hear about the process of creating a new opera from a classic 19th century novel in the composer’s own words.
And, no, it won’t look anywhere near as silly as the poster above would indicate. Heggie has made it clear that he considers the various efforts to bring “Moby-Dick” to the screen a complete failure, in part, because the work itself is simply too operatic in scope. But what about the stage? Mr. Weeks has a suggestion, in that regard, for the upcoming world premiere of “Moby-Dick” in April of 2010.
If you’re not getting even a wee bit excited about this project after reading Weeks and listening to Heggie…maybe someone should take a moment to check your pulse.
Suzanne Calvin, Assoc. Dir. of Marketing, The Dallas Opera