Woody Allen, William Friedkin and David Cronenberg Take to the Stage in L.A.

by Kyle Rupprecht | Published August 7, 2008

David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986).

Three of today’s most legendary moviemakers—Woody Allen, William Friedkin and David Cronenberg—are putting their own cinematic spin on the classic art of opera. Each is directing an exciting new production for the opening of the L.A. Opera’s 2008-2009 season.

On September 6th, Giacomo Puccini’s classic Il Trittico, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, premieres, staged by Academy-Award winners Allen and Friedkin. Allen, making his operatic directing debut, will helm “Gianni Schicchi,” the first part of this unique triptych of one-act operas. Friedkin will direct the second two one-acts, “Il Tabarro” and “Suor Angelica.” Il Trittico runs through September 26th at the LA Opera.

On September 7th, the day after Il Trittico premieres, visionary moviemaker David Cronenberg turns his classic 1986 horror remake, The Fly, into an unlikely but sure-to-be one-of-a-kind opera experience. The Fly premiered as an opera on July 2, 2008 in Paris, and makes its U.S. debut at the LA Opera. Besides Cronenberg, The Fly reunites many key collaborators of the film, including three-time Academy-Award winning composer Howard Shore, who wrote the music for the film as well as the opera, which he penned with Tony-winning librettist David Henry Hwang, and makeup and creature designer Stephan L. Dupuis, who won an Academy Award for his eye-popping work on the film. Dante Ferretti, who recently received an Academy Award for Best Art Direction for the gothic musical Sweeney Todd, is the set designer for the production. The Fly runs through September 27th.

Don’t miss out on experiencing these new and classic productions as seen through the eyes of three of today’s top moviemakers. For tickets, call 213/972-8001 or visit http://www.laopera.com.