Photo by Peter Kramer

LONDON – The world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's "Anna Nicole" will be presented by the Royal Opera next Feb. 17, starring Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek as the late model and Playboy playmate.

The Royal Opera says Covent Garden Music Director Antonio Pappano will conduct and Richard Jones will direct.

Turnage is the composer of "Greek" and the West End show "Jerry Springer: The Opera." The libretto is by Richard Thomas.

Smith died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007. She was 39.

She was Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 1993. She married 89-year-old J. Howard Marshall II the following year. After his death in 1995, she fought a protracted legal battle with his son over his estimated $500 million fortune.

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