New
Swedish Book
Release:
Gay Opera Lovers
, byLIOWLB/Enkidu
This
summer a fascinating book was published in Sweden, written by PhD in
theatre sciences and research fellow at the University of Stockholm, Göran
Gademan. The book has the Title “Operabögar” [opera-queers] and
was published by Gidlunds Editorial. A Norwegian edition is under
preparation these days, and Enkidu would like to express the hope that
further international versions will follow soon, since this book is
the first empirical European study of Gay Opera Lovers and it has
already received considerable attention in Scandinavian media.
The
book uses the life histories of 39 gay men as its point of departure.
Gademan interviewed them about their lives as gays and their interest
and fascination for the opera as art form. Each of the men answered
openheartedly and the resulting narratives are not just about gay
opera lovers, but taken together, they also in many ways provide the
reader a panoramic overview of the social history of gay men in Sweden
during the second half of the 20th century. The interviewed
men were between 19 and 65 years, and represented a wide spectrum of
different gay identities and experiences. Their lives are followed
chronologically from childhood to present.
In
the book, they share stories about their coming out with us and how
they experienced their first encounters with the gay scene as well as
the world of opera. The analysis explores the links between opera and
male homosexual culture, and discusses phenomena like the gay diva
cult, and gay men’s worship of figures like Marlene Dietrich or
Maria Callas. The book uses theatre sociology and recent developments
within queer theory and gay studies as its theoretical framework.
The
gay fascination with opera is discussed from several different angels,
for instance as a safety valve, idol-cult, gay men’s search for
sources of identification and role models, comfort and also the opera
as a classical refugium and cruising place for gay men. Before the
first gay establishments were opened, also Scandinavian gays used the
opera as a frequent cruising location, as the case was also for
instance in the former Sovjet Union, where homosexuality in long
periods was prohibited and the opera became a place of refuge. In an
interview with Svenska Dagbladet, Gadman underlines that the opera
fulfils the function as a cruising spot also in contemporary Sweden
and almost certainly also in other countries.
Most
of the frequently expressed stereotypes of gay men as the most engaged
and dedicated opera audience are indeed confirmed in this book.
According to Gademan, tragedies from the 19th century seem
to be particularly appealing to gay opera lovers in particular Wagner
and Richard Strauss. The Victorian tragedies are often about true love
and forbidden love, and these are topics that many gays can identify
themselves with. The book also indicates that gay opera lovers are
less attracted to baroque opera. Several of the individuals
interviewed in the book expressed that they preferred to discuss opera
with other gay opera lovers, rather than heterosexual enthusiasts. It
seems that it often is difficult for gay opera lovers to establish a
shared basis for a dialogue with a heterosexual opera lover, partly
because their life experiences as well as their opera experiences
differ in such fundamental ways. Heterosexual men’s opera
experiences are often too different and their different life
experiences often make them less capable of identifying with the
dramas that unfold on stage. Many of the individuals interviewed by
Gademan complained that heterosexual men were not good in verbalising
their opera experiences and discussing
opera with them was therefore less exiting.
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Cruising
gay men in monumental surroundings (foto: VG, Oslo)
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Gay Opera
Lovers of Sweden
Stockholm
also has a very active community of gay opera lovers. The group was
founded by individuals involved in the research project at the
university of Stockholm, but has expanded and is today a very visible
group in Stockholm’s gay scene. Below you can read their own
presentation of themselves. They organise a wide range of activities
and visitors from abroad to Stockholm should really check their
calendar for activities or meetings during their stay. Enkidu also
recommends opera lovers everywhere to get together and organise
similar groups. We would be happy to provide our support. Feel free to
send an add to us if you would like to get in touch with other
interested individuals. We would gladly distribute it for you.
Summary in English from the homepage of Gay Opera
Lovers of Sweden:
Gay
Opera Lovers of Sweden started out as a research project at the
University of Stockholm in 1997. The question was: Why is it common
that gay people love opera so much and how do they practise their
interest? The project has now come to its end, and the result can be
read in the book "Operabögar" which will be released in May
2003. Late 1997 Gay Opera Lovers started as a free group beside the
project. Today it is a group within the RFSL Stockholm. From the
beginning there were about 30 gay guys in the group. Today we are more
than 240 members worldwide.
If you want to become a member send a mail to: ob@stockholm.rfsl.se
Gay Opera Lovers is run by a working group of four
persons. The working group plan the meetings, keep contact with
artists and other people of interest for the group. We also keep the
members register and keep contact with the members by mail. About four
times a year we send out our members information leaflet. We in the
working group are: Åke Andersson, Micke Andersson, Göran Gademan and
Roger Wallén. If you have any ideas about happenings you think might
interest us, just send a mail and let us know.
We try to arrange all sorts of meetings and happenings.
Until today we have met artists like Doris Soffel, Birgitta Svendén,
Berit Lindholm, Thomas Lander and Edith Thallaug. We have had
interesting lectures about Wagner with Camilla Lundberg, about Maria
Callas with Harry Hackzell…We often watch opera on video and listen
to recordings. We have been to Helsinki to see their wonderful
"Anna Bolena". Why don’t you join us and you will
automatically get all the information you need to a richer gay opera
life !!!
If you want to know what is going on you just have to
enter the homepage of RFSL Stockholm. We put our uptodate information
on the information board called "På
gång just nu".
According to the project our favourite singers are:
Jussi Björling, Plácido Domingo, Bryn Terfel, Tito Gobbi and Nicolai
Gedda. The most beloved female singers are: Birgit Nilsson, Maria
Callas, Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé and Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf. We do listen to all the other singers too, of
course…Who is your favourite singer? Join us and meet friends with
similar taste in music and opera !!!
Many of the Gay Opera Lovers see a lot of opera in
Sweden and also abroad. We often go together to the different opera
venues in Stockholm and sometimes we travel together to other citys.
Do you want to join us? Here are som links to the biggest opera houses
in Sweden:
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The Gothenburg Operahouse
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If you want to find information about opera in the rest
of the world, just surf on the net. You will see that the world of
opera is wonderful and it is waiting for you. It is also very easy to
book tickets to different operas using the internet. Good luck!
As a true Gay Opera Lover you buy a lot of opera
recordings and also videos. The project found that a gay opera lover
in general owns about 275 recordings of 155 different operas. We often
meet to exchange recordings and talk about classical performances you
miss in your collection. If you miss something, join us and meet
people to exchange experiences and recordings with !
Here are some useful links about opera-recordings:
·
Skivhugget
– The best shop in Sweden
·
Ginza – Shop on the net.
·
MEGA-Biggest classical shop in Stockholm
·
EMI-Classical
record label
·
NAXOS-Budget price
·
Marston-Exciting
label with historical recordings
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Opera Rara-Here you find our beloved soprano Nelly M.
If you have any questions – feel free to ask ! Send a
mail to us and we’ll try to help you !
The world of opera is amazing and wonderful. Surf on
the net and see what awaits you. Here are some exciting links:
·
Maria Callas – La Divina!
·
La
Gran Scena
– When will they perform in Sweden?
·
Parterre
– Operaqueens at its best !
·
Operissimo
– A lot of information about singers.
·
Musikdramatik
– Swedish opera magazine.
·
OperaVännerna
– Friends of the Royal Opera.
Gay Opera Lovers also participate in the Pride
Festivals in Stockholm. During Pride 1999 we walked under our own
banner in the parade. We also performed Terrence McNally’s classical
gay opera drama "The Lisbon Traviata" for the first time in
Sweden.
During StockholmPride
2001
Gay Opera Lovers arranged a small opera concert with some of
Stockholms gay operasingers and their friends. We also participate in
the big Pride Parade. Hope to see you there too!
If you want to contact us, become a member or just ask
a question send a mail to: ob@stockholm.rfsl.se
Welcome to Gay Opera Lovers!!!
*
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Muchas Gracias.
Atte.
Tu
Los
Martes de Enkidu
Febrero 2007
