Damon Albarn plans "magic" new opera

Damon Albarn has revealed that he is learning about "hermetic magic and catalysts and philosophy" to prepare for his new opera.

The joint project with Gorillaz illustrator Jamie Hewlett and comic book scribe Alan Moore centres around a 16th century mathematician and astronomer.

"It's based on the life of John Dee, who was a very influential force in Elizabethan Europe, especially England," Albarn told NYMag. "He was responsible for creating the concept of the British Empire. So he affects all our lives in one way or another. He was an alchemist. It's about his life."

The Blur and Gorillaz frontman admitted that while he is making good progress on his research he has "not really" begun working on the musical side of the project, although he does have "an idea of how it's going to sound".

"This will be the first time I've stopped writing for six months," he added. "I've just been reading about Hermetic magic and catalysts and philosophy, which is what all of his [Dee's] stuff is based on - Euclid and Pythagoras and all of that stuff. It's a lot. And it's been brilliant."

Albarn and Hewlett made their operatic debut in 2007 with their acclaimed production Monkey: A Journey To The West.