You may find it of some interest to learn that one of the United States? leading musicians, Lorin Maazel, has been commissioned to write an opera; his subject matter is what he termed one of the most important books written in the 20 th century, "1984."
His new opera will be premiered in Europe, probably some time in 2005.
Maazel, Lorin (Varencove) mahzel(1930 ?) Conductor, born to American parents in Neuilly, NC France. Brought to the USA as a child, he was a prodigy as a violinist, pianist, and conductor, conducting the New York Philharmonic at age 12. He studied at the University of Pittsburgh, making his professional debut as a violinist in 1945 and as a conductor in 1953. He directed the Deutsche Oper, Berlin (1965?71), the Cleveland Orchestra (1972?82), the Vienna Staatsoper (1982?4), and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1988?96).
He is the recently appointed conductor of the New York Philharmonic.