Opera updating

Is it wrong to move an opera into more modern times?

No - as long as the theme is timeless. I've seen brilliant modern productions and really appalling ones. Carmen set with racing cars instead of a bull ring was terrible. Boheme set in modern times was brilliant as was Rigoletto. I saw the ballet Romeo and Juliet set in the 50's, which worked well and was more shocking than having it set much earlier.

In Vissi d'arte I wrote about a student production of scenes from famous operas.