Opera Boohaha: Zeffirelli SLAMS New Met Tosca!

It's bad enough that opera director Luc Bondy had to face a chorus of boos from Met opera audiences for daring to do something innovative with Puccini's Tosca—now big shot Italian director Franco Zeffirelli has to pile on. Never mind that Zeffirelli hasn't actually seen the production; it's still "a crime" which opera fans were right to boo like peanut-munchers at a state fair.

He tells the Times, "It’s like having married a woman who’s still beautiful in your eyes, still wonderful, and for some legal reason they replace her with another one." That first wife, by the way, would be the Zeffirelli version of Tosca, which the Met used to present. But Zeffirelli's not biased, he just thinks Bondy "should not be allowed to touch these masterpieces." Damn, these opera feuds are passionate! You just gonna take that, Bondy?

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By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on September 25, 2009 5:44 PM

Comments [rss]

bristaylor

I don't get why Gothamist is so shocked by this Tosca booing flap. Booing is part of the long tradition of opera---audiences at La Scala are famous for booing frequently. In fact, there they boo the singers! Anyways, the new La Sonnambula was also booed last season, so this isn't unheard of at the Met.

Guest

Nice tits.

Mr Mel

Funny.

HymietownHero

Ah, and the opera fans come out of the woodwork.

Oh Almighty Walrus King

ugh. zeffirelli's productions - not just this one - are like watching the gods of kitsch and bad taste vomit confetti all over a stage. that said, this might very well suck ass as well, but i just don't think zeffirelli's in any position to complain. it's like ronald mcdonald bitching about the tenderness of an emincé de volaille sauce roquefort [snort].

thefacts

Having been both to this Tosca and a state fair recently, I can tell you that the pigs at the state fair were more attractive than Bondy's porcine production.

Enough of this Eurotrash. Continue the booing. Let Gelb know what we think of his crap!