Rock Opera

Tuesday night I saw one of the best shows in a long time. I saw the East Village Opera Company at Joe's Pub.

Basically what they do is take an aria and set it to a modern arrangement, in particular drum, guitar and more pop-style vocals. And they play it amped and they play it loud. I've listened to their first CD which is a bit odd but still interesting, but the show knocks the socks of the album. Live, they deliver the corresponding energy, tension and release of these great opera pieces, but in the language of rock music.

One piece went from an Italian aria, to Led Zepplin's Kashmir, to Eminem's Lose Yourself, and back to the aria. It was amazing, irreverent, and well executed. The tenor is a bit American Idol (I imagine) a bit Freddy Mercury, and a bit Ricky Martin. What adds to the experience is that you get that they're really opera geeks at heart, who have found a great way to present to it a modern audience.

They've got another show in July, check it out.