Chicago Opera Vanguard Tries Crowdsourcing to Attract New Patrons

Did you like V for Vendetta?

Maybe its time for you to try opera. Chicago Opera Vanguardthinks that a punk opera during an economic recession can be financed in part by graffiti. Virtual graffiti, that is. Visiting www.chicagovanguard.org (COV) their “wall” let’s anyone become an opera patron – and defile an opera set at the same time.

For one dollar, you can purchase a 4×4 pixel on the virtual wall. Each pixel can be filled with any uploadable image. And every image on the wall will be incorporated into the final backdrop and video display of the opera’s production. Plus, every dollar contributed to Chicago Opera Vanguard’s production of GREEK buys a chance to win an exclusive VIP opening night package, including hotel, dinner and admission to the production.

What is this punk opera? Called Greek, it was composed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mead Composer in Residence Mark-Anthony Turnage. Employing the daring aesthetic of an off-Loop theater, Chicago Opera Vanguard is the Mid-West’s foremost home for engaging theater with music by completely re-imagining operatic favorites.

GREEK sets the ancient Oedipus myth in the economically depressed Britain of the 1980’s, where becoming a violent punk is a working class kid’s means of survival. Thatcher’s London is afflicted by a plague of racism, violence and mass unemployment. The city is overrun with violent policemen, old drunks and football hooligans. Based on Steven Berkoff’s play by the same title, GREEK was an immediate success at its 1988 Munich Biennale premiere.

Mark-Anthony Turnage is among the most relevant and innovative creators of concert music today. His orchestral and operatic music is often forthright and confrontational, unafraid to mirror the realities of modern life, yet its energy is exhilarating. Turnage is currently Mead Composer in Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Much of Turnage’s music is recorded on Decca, Chandos and Black Box. Recently, Turnage was tapped to compose the music for an opera detailing the life of Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith.
See GREEK at:

• 8PM Tuesday May 26 [preview]
• Thursday May 28
• Saturday May 30,
• Wednesday June 3
• Friday June 5
• Saturday June 6

AV-Aerie, 2000 W. Fulton St. Admission is by reservation only.
Suggested General Admission is a donation of $35 Wednesday & Thursday; $40 Friday & Saturday; $20 preview. Suggested Student Admission is a donation of $10 Thursday & Sunday; $15 Friday & Saturday; $5 preview. Tickets are available online at www.chicagovanguard.org.

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• Anna Nicole Smith, the opera (guardian.co.uk)