Anna Nicole Smith Opera “Absolutely Incredible”

… According to a fan. The opera, called Anna Nicole, opened last night in London, and so far on YouTube — one of the world’s most valuable discussion forums — reactions are mixed. “I hope the solar flares kill us all this week. That would feel so much better than having to be in the same existence as this filth,” says TurboGC8. But “Let history be the judge,” says abarzilai664. “[T]hough ‘Carmen’ by Georges Bizet was controversial when it opened, it is now a classic.”

The Hairpin turns to resident opera expert Seth Colter Walls for a professional opinion.

Seth, what do you think of this? “I like the Larry King with the uber-long desk. And the guy on the couch with Anna — ‘she’s from the school of hard knocks,’ etc. — is Gerald Finley, a very well respected singer. And the composer, Mark Anthony Turnage, is a serious composer. He once did a thing at BBC Proms that interpolated Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies.’” What are the BBC Proms? “An annual festival of classical music concerts in England broadcast on BBC radio.” OK, but does this opera look absolutely incredible, yes or no? “Yes it looks like the best thing of all time, Edith.” And there you have it.