How do you tell the story of the most successful magic duo of the 20th century—a story that intertwines unprecedented success with shocking tragedy? Two playwrights in Australia found a unique answer: transform it into an opera.
Siegfried and Roy: The Unauthorised Opera brings the lives of the iconic magical duo to the stage in a wholly unexpected medium—opera. Yes, you read that right. Naturally, we had to find out more.
The opera ran through January as part of the Sydney Festival. Melbourne-based Luke Di Somma composed the music and co-wrote the script with Constantine Costi. The show tells the story of Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher, portrayed by Kanen Breen and Christopher Tonkin, respectively. The show was well-received by audiences and garnered highly positive reviews.
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn were born in post-World War II Germany. They grew up in challenging environments with violent fathers and limited prospects. Both longed to escape their circumstances: Siegfried pursued magic, while Roy developed a profound connection with animals.
Their paths crossed in 1959 aboard a cruise ship, where Siegfried worked as a magician and Roy as a steward. After witnessing Siegfried perform the classic rabbit-from-a-hat trick, Roy suggested swapping the rabbit for a cheetah. They performed the illusion and were fired from the cruise before going on to become the world's most successful magic act.
