You might know David Cronenberg from his slightly disturbing films such as Crash and A History of Violence. You might know Howard Shore from his music for The Lord of the Rings (and many many other films). You may not know (or be able to believe) that have now formed a dream team with Plácido Domingo and turned Cronenberg’s film The Fly into – of all things – an opera…

photo by Martin_Heigan used under cc licence


Yep, Shore has been scoring Cronenberg’s films for nearly 30 years now, and apparently the opera idea has been gestating ever since the film in 1986. Now the project has come to fruition, with the aid of the Los Angeles Opera, and is having its world premiere in Paris (with just five shows) before its LA run in September.

Shore has created a completely new libretto, and says that he always thought the story would make for good opera. Time magazine called the film “a profound parable on love and loss,” and as the official site points out, its mutation into another form seems especially fitting. With Shore composing, Domingo conducting and Cronenberg aiding and abetting, popular success seems inevitable.

Here’s all the essential information for the world premiere of the opera The Fly in Paris

When: 2nd, 5th, 8th & 11th July 2008 at 8pm, 13th July 2008 at 4pm
Where: Théâtre de Châtelet, place du Châtelet, Paris 1st arrondissement. Métro Châtelet (lines 1, 4, 7, 11 & 14)
How much: seats between 25 euros (right at the back, where anyone onstage will look like a fly) and 120 euros
How to book: click here

Bigger map here