Damon Albarn Previews Doctor Dee Material

Damon Albarn has premiered material from his forthcoming opera on The Andrew Marr Show.

Albarn played new song ‘Apple Carts’ on the programme. You can watch the performance on the BBC News Website.

The Opera itself - written by and starring Damon - is centred around 19th Century astrologer John Dee, and will be named ‘Doctor Dee’. The show will be premiered at Manchester’s International Festival at the Manchester Palace Theatre on 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th July 2011.

Albarn co-created the opera with Rufus Norris about the life of 16th century scientist John Dee. ‘It’s just amazing how much colour there is in his ideas. Just imagine the English now if we had kept that spirit in our hearts,’ Albarn told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.

‘Doctor Dee’ is the second opera that Damon has been involved in, with 2007’s ‘Monkey: Journey To The West’ also premiering at the Manchester International Festival.