Video Round-Up: Musicals based on Operas
Across broadway and beyond there are musicals based on novels, poems, films, plays, and also OPERAS! Our current musical Onegin is based on Tchaikovsky’s original opera Eugene Onegin. This isn’t the first musical whose origins come the opera, so we thought we would do a round up of the big broadway hits that are also based on operas.
Check them out below!
Aida
Music & Lyrics: Elton John & Tim Rice
Based on the Opera: Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
Original Language: Italian
First Performed: 1871 (Egypt)
Broadway Debut: 2000
Awards: Winner of 4 Tony Awards in 2000 & the 2000 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album
Rent
Music & Lyrics: Jonathan Larson
Based on the Opera: La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Original Language: Italian
First Performed: 1896 (Italy)
Broadway Debut: 1996 (100 years later!)
Awards: Winner of 4 Tony Awards, 5 Drama Desk Awards & the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996
Miss Saigon
Music & Lyrics: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby, Jr.
Based on the Opera: Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
Original Language: Italian
First Performed: 1904 (Italy)
Broadway Debut: 1991
Awards: Winner of 3 Tony Awards & 4 Drama Desk Awards in 1991 and nominated for 2 Tony’s for its Broadway revival this year
Gilbert & Sullivan (Savoy Operas)
H.M.S. Pinafore
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert & Sullivan
Original Language: English
First Performed: 1878 (England)
Broadway Debut:1879
Current Production: Stratford Festival from May 4th – October 21st!
The Mikado
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert & Sullivan
Original Language: English
First Performed: 1885 (England)
Broadway Debut:1885
Latest Broadway Revival: 1934
The Pirates of Penzance
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert & Sullivan
Original Language: English
First Performed: 1879 (New York)
Latest Broadway Revival:1981 (Tony Award for Best Revival)
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
BEGGAR’S HOLIDAY
Based on the Opera: The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay
CARMEN JONES
Based on the Opera: Carmen by Georges Bizet
Did we miss one of your favourite musicals based on an opera? Tell us in the comments!