''Anna Nicole'' is an English

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

in 2 acts and 16 scenes, with music by

Mark-Anthony Turnage Mark-Anthony Turnage CBE (born 10 June 1960) is a British composer of classical music. Biography Turnage was born in Corringham, Essex. He began composing at age nine and at fourteen began studying at the junior section of the Royal College of ...

to an English libretto by Richard Thomas. Based on the life of American model Anna Nicole Smith, the opera received its première on 17 February 2011 at the

Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Ope ...

, Covent Garden, London, directed by Richard Jones. A recording of the opera was broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer on 25 March 2011. The broadcast drew in 67,700 viewers. The opera received its first London revival at Covent Garden in September 2014.

Premiere

The opera received its European continental premiere at

Theater Dortmund Theater Dortmund is a theatrical organization that produces operas, Musical theatre, musicals, ballets, plays, and concerts in Dortmund, Germany. It was founded as the Stadttheater Dortmund in 1904. Supported by the German Government, the organiza ...

(Germany) in April 2013 with American soprano Emily Newton in the title role. ''Anna Nicole'' received its U.S. premiere on September 17, 2013, in a production by the

New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, du ...

at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the last work staged by the City Opera before its closure that year.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

* 'Scene Zero' – Overture * Scene 1 – 'America Sings' * Scene 2 – "No! It's Mu-Hay-Uh." * Scene 3 – "Hey We're Family" * Scene 4 – 'Falling in Loath Again' * Scene 5 – 'Life Implants' * Scene 6 – 'American Dreaming' * Scene 7 – 'Marriage in the White Dove Chapel'

Act 2

* Scene 8 – 'Red Carpet Diem' * Scene 9 – 'Partay!' * Scene 10 – "Not Dead Yet!" * Scene 11 – 'Backstage at the Larry King Show' * Scene 12 – 'The Larry King Show and Tell' * Scene 13 – "Good Morning Hollywood" * Scene 14 – 'Birth Worth' * Scene 15 – 'Daniel Death' * Scene 16 – 'Clown Messiah'

References

External links

"A Tabloid Star Is Joining the Sisterhood of the Fallen"
by Michael White, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' (11 February 2011)
Brooklyn Academy of Music, BAM 2013 Next Wave Festival, programme note on ''Anna Nicole''
* (February 2011) * (April 2013) {{Portal bar, Opera Operas by Mark-Anthony Turnage 2011 operas English-language operas Operas set in the United States Opera world premieres at the Royal Opera House Operas Operas based on real people Cultural depictions of Anna Nicole Smith Operas set in the 20th century Operas set in the 21st century