London’s Royal Opera House Presenting Opera On Kurt Cobain’s Death

The prestigious Royal Opera House in London has announced several new opera and ballet productions for the 2022-2023 season. One, well, unusual show in that slate is reportedly an adaptation of the Gus Van Sant film Last Days, which was inspired by the 1994 suicide of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Last Days, which starred Michael Pitt as the musician Blake who viewers meet as he is sneaking out of rehab, and eventually commits suicide, was released to mixed reviews in 2005. Pitt’s performance, the film’s cinematography, and screenplay were still praised, and clearly, the Royal Opera House saw something special in it.

The opera was composed by the Opera House’s resident composer Oliver Leith, with the libretto written by Matt Copson. Leith said he enjoyed adapting Cobain’s music style to an oper because “I owe a lot of how I make music to the sound of grunge from that time – I had never really thought bout where my experimental mess and repetitions had come from.”

He also said he was attracted to the film because it didn’t sensationalize Cobain’s death. It’s hard to imagine how an opera won’t sensationalize anything it’s adapting, but good on the composer for keeping that in mind.

Cobain’s 1994 suicide was a shock to his fans, friends close to him, and the mainstream music industry. His death is the subject of several conspiracy theories by fans who believe the singer was murdered despite his history of addiction, depression, and a previous suicide attempt occurring in Rome.

Last Days will have a short run at London’s Linbury Theatre from October 7-11.