Hey Joe, it turns out is the title of the opera and the appropriate appellation for one member of the audience [“Hay(seed) Joe”] last night.

According to the paper (if I read it right [LOL]), there was a seven-minute standing ovation after the opening night.

By Sunday night, more of us were left puzzled by the experimental opera: one without much of a story, singing, or music.

Not quite true. It was just that this homage to Rossini, in his time the most popular opera composer in history, wasn’t exactly catchy.

Interesting, in many ways. But memorable melodies, like the one from William Tell, were nowhere to be heard.

Part of the point, no doubt, of the experiment. After all, how do you write a contemporary opera about a master in an unrecoverable classic form?

We have a copy of the libretto. When Reb’s finished the translation, maybe we’ll know more. For now, Ehi Gio left this Joe jolted.

Meanwhile, for a view of the set (and another attempt at photographing journalism):