Anna Nicole's Libretto

The fine line between opera and soap opera just got blurrier.

Britain's august Royal Opera said it is planning a show based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith.

The company says the show will have music by the acclaimed British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage. The libretto is by Richard Thomas, co-creator of "Jerry Springer: The Opera," an earlier merger of highbrow and lowbrow culture. It will run in the Royal Opera's 2011 season.

The company's director of opera, Elaine Padmore, told The Guardian newspaper the show "is not going to be tawdry; it is going to be witty, clever, thoughtful and sad."

"It is not just a documentary about her, but a parable about celebrity and what it does to people," she said.

Smith was Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 1993, and the next year married 89-year-old J. Howard Marshall II. After his death the following year, she fought a protracted legal battle with his son over his estimated $500 million fortune.

Smith died at 39 in February 2007, five months after the death of her 20-year-old son from her first marriage. Daniel Smith died of an accidental overdose in the Bahamas hospital room where his mother had days earlier given birth to a daughter.

Photos: Getty Images

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Comments

[giftwrapped]

This is a role that would seem written for Renee Fleming.

[AgnelloDei]

Are we talking real opera or musical theater? There's a difference, it's like comparing french champagne with diet coke.

How tacky...Anna Bolena, Elisabeta regina d'inglaterra, Maria Stuarda, Beatrice di Tenda...ANA NICOLE...mmmmh doesn't quite fit.

Doesn't matter, moder composer's music is DISGUSTING, ugly chromatic stuff that absolutely lack melody. Cannot even compare to the jewels of the bel canto period.

[B.]

Opera has always been about larger than life characters and overblown emotions (and trust me, I love many of them, so I say that with respect to the genre) and Anna Nicole fits both of those. A lot of people thought an opera about Richard Nixon would be a bad idea, too, and yet Nixon in China has some fantastic music in it and is steadily gaining respect as a modern entry in the repertoire.

And for the comment about the jewels of the bel canto period, just remember that for each of those jewels we still cherish today, there are a lot of pieces that are long forgotten, and for good reason.

[mr funny]

My first guess is Jenna Elfmam from Dharma and Greg

[Lee]

Gee a writer of Jerry Springer doing Opera,,, now that is novel. To paraphrase someone who wrote earlier. HIGH BROW "BEATS" LOW BROW. Dam can't that talentless bimbo rest in peace already!

[scottontherox]

Who should play her? How about no one. This is absolutely f@$&ing ridiculous.

[B.]

Lee,

Richard Thomas is not a writer from the Jerry Springer show, he is the writer of Jerry Springer: The Opera, which was a pretty big hit over in London a couple years ago. Act I consisted of an operatic treatment of a "typical" Jerry Springer episode, while Act II saw Jesus and Satan hashing it out over Jerry's soul.

[splerrk]

Hasn't she been drug through the dirt enough.
Let her rest in peace.
But if we just have to go there then that blonde chick who is dating Jim Carey should play her.

[Scott]

No one will play Anna Nicloe in the opera. Opera is "sung", not "played".

[BobutesDarkAngel]

I really wish people would leave anna nicole alone already she passed away let her rest in peace with her son.

but if anyone should play her in any role at all it would be Jenny McCarthy ( the girl who is dating Jim Carey ) and I do not think that the life of Anna Nicole should be an opera at all even though Anna Nicole did put out an album she has no singing credit.

She may not have had any talent at all but she had a very big heart and she always gave to charity. So in my eyes thats a lot more than a lot of these so called starlets we have now have ever done

[Ian]

Everyone talks about the tragedy and the saddness of her life, but there must have been some happiness along the way. I mean, she accomplished some huge goals in her short life. She escaped poverty, gained fame and fortune & supported her child exceptionally well. She was a pop-culture personality, not a great actress. I have no idea who could possibly play her on stage. Perhaps even more than one actress, since her physical appearance changed several times throughout her life.

[wolf4t3]

Who should play her? It's a cross between Amy Whinehouse or Tweety - Bird...

[Chris Cullen]

I think Lisa Lampanelli would be perfect!

[Gino Pinzone]

I think Renee Fleming should do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JT]

Kristen Chenowith can sing, but can she do opera?

[Matt]

How about Deborah Voigt?

[Demonic_intuition@gay.com]

Anyone else see this is sick and just outrite horrible? Anna's life isnt a musical its a very sad and depressing documentary of a woman who didnt know how to cope with extream pain. She made fun of herself and that was funny and respectable, but even though she ended a sloppy cow. She is a legend all herself and she may have been dumb, "not everyone can be smart" but she made others smile and laugh even though she took pills to keep her going. Have some respect! She will always and forever be my icon.
As for musical. Well they should make one of Bobby Trendy being smothered in luxurious pink in a morbid twisted way. I need to watch SAW 1-5 for ideas. PINK GOOSE FEATHERS UP THE BUT TELL DEATH??? AMEN!

Please take a moment to think of a funny moment from the show and blow anna a kiss towards heaven. We love you anna.

[John]

This photo is a discrace...i think just because she is dead we should treat with respect....I take affence to this just because i love Anna...Please check your selfs next time u decide to post a pic with out promition...it is really rude

[Martin]

JT,
Kristin Chenoweth was Classically trained in voice. So the answer is, yes she can do opera.

[Knight_of_light]

Wow... I am seeing and hearing a lot of cruelty, insensitivity, and prejudice. It is amazing to see people speak from a place of peace and way of love, in soul. However, it is greatly unfortunate to see others speak from way of ignorance and judgment. When I see what I call the "unfortunates", it makes me wonder where it is that these "unfortunates"; people truly stand in place of inner happiness and peace.

Personally, I am intrigued with Anna Nicole's character. Furthermore, in my life, and through my challenges, I have gained strength and happiness from who Anna Nicole's character and light hearted way of life.
A lot of people along the way in Anna's life robbed her of her happiness and her peace of mind, and to think that people have the audacity and the shameful nerve to continue to splurge with their negative and venomous energy towards her and about her?!
You see, it is this monstrosity that makes me want to beat the living hell out of people. It is despicable to man kind to have such a contribution in destruction of soul.

Anna was a woman of color. She loved with light, and she fought to maintain and manage her truth. I would like to see five of these people that have such shallow and narrow minded way of both thinking and speaking, deal with half of the things that she has gone through in her path. Some people receive pain in far more different ways, and some people are far more sensitive in life, and it is no one's place to pass prejudice and hate on to the mind and soul of someone else.

At the end of the day, Anna achieved fame, and she was successful in being prosperous. I have not met one person that has ever met her say anything negative about her, however I have heard quite the contrary. People have said that she was classy, intelligent, respectful, diligent, sweet, and loving.

Anna Nicole Smith shined! She made something of herself.

I do not know a single person, that has been deeply wounded by circumstance, be something of what we call "perfect nature". At the end of the day, Anna was a giver, and a love.

In life there are takers and givers.
Which are you? You can take with your words, hostility, and your lack of soul, or give with your light and your god given love?! You choose!
Anna understood life, and she suffered from it. Anna is at peace, and she is looking down and giggling at all of this, just like she always did.

Anna Nicole was and always will be in control. She made her career, and she made the illusion. I guess with that being said, the joke is really on all of the ignorant subjective people.

Moreover, I think the Opera is a brilliant idea. It could possibly both inspire and entertain if performed propperly. Anna has an amazing history filled with a lot of emotional heart ache, devastation, and happiness.
All of which are necessary to tell a story through the soul and voice of an opera singer!