Spreafico Eckly, Bad Dante Bad English Bad Opera Chamber Opera (2022)
“Bad Dante Bad English Bad Opera is a new version of Dante’s classic Purgatory from The Divine Comedy. The strict verse form from the original Italian version has been maintained, but the text has been rewritten into anti-academic ‘street language’ English.
“From a stripped-down stage, four singers/actors and three string players present the first nine cantos of Purgatory: Antepurgatorio. Here, in transit between hell and paradise, Dante meets the souls who are waiting to atone for their sins. Human emotions such as imperfection, justice, confusion, and tolerance are explored in a smart, refreshing, and humorous way.
“The chamber opera Bad Dante Bad English Bad Opera is created by Spreafico Eckly, the Bergen-based production company of writer and theatre director Andrea Spreafico, and composer and artist Matteo Fargion.” [. . .] —Bergen International Festival (retrieved March 26, 2022)
The opera will have its world premiere at the Bergen International Festival on June 7-8, 2022. Learn more about the opera and watch a trailer here.
Sighting Citation:
“Spreafico Eckly, Bad Dante Bad English Bad Opera Chamber Opera (2022).” Dante Today: Citings and Sightings of Dante’s Works in Contemporary Culture. Elizabeth Coggeshall and Arielle Saiber, eds. March 26, 2022. https://www.dantetoday.org/sightings/bad-dante-bad-english-bad-opera-chamber-opera-production-company-spreafico-eckly-2022/.