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Fantastic Mr. Fox and Where the Wild Things Are Premiere on the Silver Screen; They're Operas too!

Nov. 02, 2009

This Fall, the film world is abuzz with the upcoming release of Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, Fantastic Mr. Fox. A staple of many children's bookshelves both in the US and in the UK, the story tells the tale of Mr. Fox, a Robin Hood-esque character who steals food from three  abhorrent farmers to help feed his family. The Roald Dahl Foundation commissioned Tobias Picker to adapt the story in 1998, and the new opera premiered at the Los Angeles Opera in December of that same year. Audio clips and photos of the production can be found at www.tobiaspicker.com.

Another classic children's book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, has also recently been adapted for the silver screen, but not before Oliver Knussen adapted this children's classic for the opera stage almost 30 years ago. Knussen composed the opera from 1979 to 1983 in collaboration with Sendak, who wrote the libretto as well as designed the costumes and sets for the production. Knussen's Where the Wild Things Are was premiered by the Glyndebourne Opera at the National Theater in London in 1984. A recording of Knussen's adaptation, with Maurice Sendak narrating, can be found here.

Visit www.tobiaspicker.com and www.schott-music.com for more on Tobias Picker's Fantastic Mr. Fox.

More information on Oliver Knussen and his music can be found at www.fabermusic.com.

A video clip of Where the Wild Things Are can be seen here.

Tobias Picker
Fantastic Mr. Fox (1998)
an opera in three acts
libretto (En) by Donald Sturrock
for 2 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass baritone, bass, four children and chorus
2(1.alfl 2.pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl).2(2.cbn)-4.2.2.1-timp.2perc-hp.pno-str
90'

Oliver Knussen
Where the Wild Things Are (1979-83)
fantasy opera in one act
libretto (En) Maurice Sendak
for soprano, 2 mezzo-sopranos, tenor, baritone, bass-baritone, bass, dance-mime (all wild things may be played by dancers on-stage with singers amplified off-stage)
3(3.pic).1.ca.3(3.Ebcl).1.cbsn-4.0.3.0-4perc-hp-pno(2 players)-str
40'

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