Neil Gaiman betrayed us all

 A quick note about the horrific prolonged SA cases that have come out around Neil Gaiman. I have been reading his work since the age of 11. I knew 0 about his character aside from what he wrote in introductions, and wikipedia's then small background tab.

Gaiman preyed on fans, people like you, people like me. He was not who anyone thought he was. 

I have talked about Coraline (2002) as its original novel, animated film, opera, and stage versions. I can do so no longer. Whilst the posts will remain on this site I will pin to each the article by New York Magazine on Gaiman's crimes, which I will link underneath this post. 

I believe every victim who has come forward.

LINK: THE SIDE OF NEIL GAIMAN HIS FANS NEVER SAW, BY LAUREN STARKE (TRIGGER WARNINGS APPLY)

Operahaus Zurich's production of Turnage's Coraline is BEAUTIFUL

 

NOTE JANUARY 2025: NEIL GAIMAN IS AN ABUSER, I WROTE THIS PIECE FAR BEFORE ANYONE KNEW. PLEASE READ THE SIDE OF NEIL GAIMAN HIS FANS NEVER SAW, BY LAUREN STARKE (TRIGGER WARNINGS APPLY)

Honestly these production photos are everything I could have hoped for. Unlike Giles Cadle's
designs for the world premiere and co productions, Zurich's Stefan Rieckhoff actually injects colour into the designs and makes the opera feel its own thing, rather than incorporating design ideas from the 2009 film.

Compared to this (for both houses in the opera)



there is no competition.

Now if only Operahaus Zurich could film this production for DVD (please!) 

Mark Anthony Turnage's Coraline Opera gets MAJOR new 2019 production

NOTE JANUARY 2025: NEIL GAIMAN IS AN ABUSER, I WROTE THIS PIECE FAR BEFORE ANYONE KNEW. PLEASE READ THE SIDE OF NEIL GAIMAN HIS FANS NEVER SAW, BY LAUREN STARKE (TRIGGER WARNINGS APPLY)

This in from the excellent Opernhaus Zurich, playing from the 16th of November - April next year:

Coraline discovers a mysterious door, gathers her courage and crawls through. At first glance, the Other world in which she ends up feels very familiar: Actually, everything is like home. But Coraline's parents are suddenly terribly nice, cook delicious meals and are ready to fulfill all their wishes. However, there is one condition: to stay here forever, Coraline would have to swap her eyes for two buttons ...

 Coraline’s fantastical and sinister experiences are reminiscent of literary classics such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland or E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Sandman, yet tell a very modern coming-of-age story. 

 And cast announcements (via Operawire) 

Nina Russi will lead the new production with Ann-Katrin Stöcker as conductor. The cast will include Deanna Breiwick and Sandra Hamaoui alternating the title role, while Irène Friedli, Judith Schmid will play Mother. Other cast members include Ronan Collett, Robin Adams, Iain Milne, Spencer Lang, and Sen Guo, among others.

Opernhaus Zurich is one of Austria's biggest Opera companies, and has a working relationship with DVD distributors ARTE and Accentus Music. 

As Coraline is one of the biggest announcements for Opernhaus Zurich's new season, a DVD is highly likely!  

As always will report if there's any news on this!