A Brokeback Opera

New York City Opera commissions work based on Oscar-winning gay cowboy flick

By Josh Grossberg Jun 09, 2008 5:50 PMTags
Brokeback MountainFocus Features

Brokeback Mountain apparently ain't over until the fat lady sings.

The New York City Opera has commissioned an opera based on the 2005 Oscar-wrangling flick about closeted cowboys that starred Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger.

In a statement, the opera house says American composer Charles Wuorinen will take his cues from both the Ang Lee film and the original short story by Annie Proulx about the tragic, forbidden love between Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar, a pair of ranch hands who just can't quit each other.

The Brokeback Mountain opera will have its world premiere during the company's 2013 spring season.