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“Balls” Opera Reimagines 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” as Bold, Kitsch Spectacle
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Nearly 50 years after captivating a nation, the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is being revisited through a new orchestral opera, “Balls,” offering a contemporary lens on a defining cultural moment. The world premiere of composer Laura Karpman’s work transforms the event – watched by approximately 90 million viewers – into a vibrant, often unsubtle, theatrical experience.
Did you know?-The 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match was a ratings bonanza, drawing an estimated 90 million television viewers in the United States. It remains one of the most-watched sporting events in history, transcending the world of tennis.
A Match Beyond Tennis
The 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” was more than just a sporting event; it was a spectacle steeped in chauvinism and societal expectations. The theatricality surrounding the match was immediately apparent, with King arriving carried on a litter by topless men and Riggs making his entrance on a rickshaw pulled by female models. The playful antagonism continued with Riggs gifting King a novelty lollipop and King responding with a piglet. As one source noted,”The Battle of the Sexes was always an opera.”
Pro tip:-Bobby Riggs was a self-promoter who often used outlandish tactics to draw attention to his matches. He frequently challenged and defeated top female players before facing King.
From Shock to Spectacle: Karpman’s Vision
Karpman’s “Balls” doesn’t shy away from the jarring cultural context of the original event. The opera incorporates video clips of period advertisements and recreates the 1973 television commentary – delivered with striking accuracy by actor Emma Kennedy – to highlight the casual sexism of the era. The score reimagines the shock of advertisements targeting women with slogans like cigarettes “tailored for the feminine hand” and the dismissive address of female athletes as “little lady” into a dynamic, “all-singing all-dancing kitsch.”
The opera’s musical landscape is deliberately eclectic. Moments of hope are underscored with the sweeping melodies reminiscent of Copland, while archival footage of suffragettes is paired with minimalist passages in the style of Philip glass. The production embraces a distinctly cinematic scale,with Hollywood-ready climaxes,concise musical numbers,and amplified vocals – though occasionally to the point of muddiness during choral sections.
Reader question:-Why was Billie Jean King so vital to the women’s liberation movement? King used her platform to advocate for equal prize money and opportunities for female athletes, becoming a symbol of the fight for gender equality.
stellar Performances Bring the drama to Life
The cast of “Balls” delivers compelling performances that capture the spirit of the original figures and the opera’s heightened reality. Tenor Nicky Spence embodies the bombastic Bobby Riggs, delivering a comedic performance filled with prancing and falsetto passages. Lotte Betts-Dean portrays King’s secretary and lover with a smoky, soulful voice. Nicholas prince delivers a powerful and intense performance as Billie Jean King, showcasing vocal control and dramatic depth.
Billie Jean King herself contributed a video cameo, promising audiences they were “in for a treat.”
A Harmonious Blend with Walton’s “Façade”
Under the baton of Marin Alsop,the Philharmonia orchestra seamlessly transitions between lush,filmic textures and energetic accompaniment to spoken word segments.The inspired programming choice of pairing “Balls” with Walton’s “Façade” before intermission proved notably effective. “Façade,” a work of “fun”-forward music theater, demands virtuosity in the delivery of Edith Sitwell’s text – expertly handled by Printz, Spence, and
