Woody Allen to tackle opera? Oy!

It happens to the best of us: you announce to the world your intention to direct an opera within the next three years, working on the theory that you'll be dead by the time you have to make good on your promise. And then, gadammit! You find yourself still very much alive and in a dreadful bind.

That is exactly what seems to have happened to Woody Allen, who has finally begun work on his long-promised opera, a collaboration with The Exorcist director William Friedkin.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference to promote his new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which stars Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, earlier this week, the 72-year-old Allen said: "I made this promise to do it three years ago and I thought I'd be dead in three years and it's never gonna happen so I said, 'OK.' Then, I didn't die and the time came and so I started work on this opera on Tuesday."

The film-maker is working on Gianni Schicchi, the third part of Giacomo Puccini's Il Trittico, with Friedkin and another unnamed director looking after the first two acts. Friedkin is a well-known opera lover who has been quietly developing a second career in the discipline, having directed productions in Tel Aviv, Florence, Turin and Los Angeles since 1999.

The self-effacing Allen is typically downbeat when it comes to his chances of pulling off a stage masterpiece. "I'll give it my best shot ... but I really don't know what to expect," he said. "The opera is unlike the movies; they boo. I've been disliked but from a distance, but this is different."

Allen's part of the deal, a comedic, 55-minute venture with a cast of 10, was reported in June last year to be debuting as part of the LA Opera's 2008-09 season in September. Given he started it last week, that may now be a little optimistic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/aug/06/woodyallen