Damon Albarn new musical receives positive reviews

The career of former Blur frontman Damon Albarn has taken many interesting twists and turns over the years, but few could have predicted the plans of his latest project.

The Gorillaz and Blur star has now started his own opera, Dr Dee which documents the life of John Dee, the 16th century astronomer and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I.

Albarn plays songs from a high up platform looking down upon the stage action and singing about the events below.

It may seem as though the move is rather a risky venture, but critics have given very positive reviews of early showings of the opera.

Paul Vallely from the Independent gave the show 4 stars and stated "Albarn and the director Rufus Norris have created something thrilling and visually stunning."

Stephen Pritchard from the Guardian was slightly less praising but still commented, "it already deserves a gold medal for sheer imagination and invention."

The show has just finished playing at the Manchester International Festival and will be running at the English Natural Opera next Summer.

Dr Dee: An English Opera tickets.