Disney opera planned

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Sep 29, 2008 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

The New York City Opera Board of Directors has commissioned Philip Glass to compose an opera based on Walt Disney.

Peter Stephan Jungk's novel "The Perfect American" will be used as the inspiration for this work. The book explores the final months of Disney's life as seen through the eyes of Wilhelm Dantine, a fictional character. Dantine, an Austrian cartoonist, struggles through feelings of admiration and resentment towards his employer as he strives to attain the American dream.

Glass described the opera as being " The story of the last days of Walt Disney, American Icon and creator of perhaps the most pervasive fantasy world on our planet, is surprisingly gripping and at times disturbing. But, on the face of it, how could it be anything else? The pulse of his life has to be the pulse of our own American culture. And, like other aspects of life here, it is unimaginable, alarming, and truly frightening. I am looking forward to beginning these collaborations with Gerard Mortier at the New York City Opera."

The production is scheduled to be the opening work for New York City Opera's 2012 - 2013 season.