Rapper Kanye West announces that he is creating his first opera entitled, Nebuchadnezzar.
What We Know:
- On Sunday, November 17, West made an appearance at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. Lakewood Church is famously known as a non-denominational church that is founded by senior pastor Joel Osteen and his wife/first lady, Victoria.
- During his appearance, West not only preached a sermon about his faith but, he also took the time out to announce that he would be creating his first opera, Nebuchadnezzar. West decided to name the opera, Nebuchadnezzar, after the actual Biblical character who was an ancient Babylonian king from 605 B.C. to 562 B.C. He is also mentioned throughout the book of Daniel.
- Before the release of his latest album, Jesus Is King, West was interviewed by DJ Zane Lowe about the ancient character. “Nebuchadnezzar was the king… And he looked at his entire kingdom and said, ‘I did this,’ and God said, ‘Oh, for real? You did this?'”, stated West. “Sounds kind of similar, right? I’m standing on the tip of the mountain talking about Yeezus. Saying, ‘I did this! That I’m a God! And I would – I could talk to Jesus at the end of my show. I had a guy dressed up as Jesus, at the end of my show.”
- This isn’t West’s first rodeo with opera and classical music. In 2013, he proposed to his wife, model and beauty mogul, Kim Kardashian-West, at a San Francisco baseball stadium, with an orchestra performing. Three years later, West surprised his wife on her birthday with a string orchestra.
Tickets for Nebuchadnezzar are on sale now and according to Classic FM, the opera will be directed by Italian contemporary performance artist Vanessa Beecroft. The premiere will be held at the Hollywood Bowl on November 24. Will you be in attendance? Let us know in the comments!
Invite artwork by Nick Knight pic.twitter.com/U7IBqe1Gxk
— ye (@kanyewest) November 17, 2019
