| We're
thrilled to welcome acclaimed singer and actress Julia Migenes to the Egyptian for this
series!
Series compiled by Gwen Deglise.
Special Thanks to: Los Angeles Opera League, Molly
Sieffert; Elisabeth Pollon; Daniel Toscan du Plantier; Gaumont, Philipe de Chaisemartin;
New Yorker Films, Rebeca Conget; Mike Thomas.
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EGYPTIAN THEATRE |
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At
the junction of Eros and Thanatos, opera is drama set to music. From the traditional fairy
tale of Mozart's MAGIC FLUTE, to the Greek tragedy of Verdi's LA TRAVIATA,
the romantic tragedy of Bizet's CARMEN, the tragic love of Puccini's
LA BOHEME and the fantastic tragi-comedy of Mozart's DON GIOVANNI, it's
the story of the ageless conflict between duty and desire, where true love must triumph
over all – except Death. Opera on film goes back to the earliest days of
cinema: one of the first filmmakers to attempt it was Georges Melies, with his adaptation
in 1903 of Berlioz's Faust. While opera films of the silent era were accompanied by
a live orchestra, the era of sound film had quite a different challenge: most film actors
couldn't actually sing! Opera films became either a record of a stage performance, or a
film using actors who were dubbed with the voices of well-known professional singers.
Led by Bergman's THE MAGIC FLUTE, the 1980's and 1990's saw many operas conceived
specifically for the wide screen, where the actors are the singers - featuring the
amazing voices and great acting performances of Placido Domingo, Babara Hendricks,
Julia Migenes, Kiri Te Kanawa and Teresa Stratas.
Friday, November 17 - 8:00 PM
Julia Migenes in-person!
CARMEN, 1984, Gaumont, 152 min. Dir: Francesco Rosi. Prosper Merimé's legendary
femme fatale tale, immortalized by composer George Bizet, CARMEN has been adapted to film
many times -- but director Francesco Rosi's film is arguably the best. In 19th
century Andalucia, Don Jose (Placido Domingo) destroys his life for the woman he
loves, Carmen (Julia Migenes) -- then destroys her when she no longer returns his
love. Migenes is stunning in her interpretation of the tempestuous gypsy, with her
deathless credo of freedom at any cost. A feast for the ears and eyes! Presented in
association with the Los Angeles Opera League. Introduction to
the screening by Julia Migenes. Ms. Migenes will be interviewed by music commentator Rich
Capparela.
Saturday November 18 - 5:30 PM
LA TRAVIATA,
1982, Universal, 112 min. Dir: Franco Zeffirelli. Legendary tenor Placido
Domingo makes his cinematic debut in this magnificent film, which also marks the first
starring role for renowned soprano Teresa Stratas. Violetta, a fallen woman,
sacrifices her love for Alfredo to satisfy the honor of his father. Based on Alexandre
Dumas Jr.’s novel Camille, and adapted by Guiseppe Verdi into one of the
masterpieces of romantic opera. "Having cast the film close to perfection, Mr.
Zeffirelli has staged it in a way that serves both the film and the grandeur of the
score." -- Vincent Canby, New York Times
Saturday November 18 - 8:30 PM
LA BOHČME, 1987, New Yorker, 106 min. Passionate cinematic interpretation by the
prolific Italian director Luigi Comencini (PINOCCHIO) of Puccini's opera about the tragic
love between the friendly poet Rodolfo (played by Luca Canonici and sung by Jose
Carreras) and the lonely consumptive flower girl Mimi (Barbara Hendricks, in
her first starring role), in the heart of Paris in early 1900.
Sunday November 19 - 5:00 PM
THE MAGIC
FLUTE, 1974, 134 min. Director Ingmar Bergman shot Mozart’s
last operatic masterpiece for Swedish television in 1973, on a studio in which the famed
18th century Royal Court Theatre of Drottningholm was recreated. A heroic prince (Joseph
Köstlinger) has been enlisted by the Queen of the Night (Brigit Nordin) to
rescue her daughter, the beautiful Pamina (Irma Urrila), from her evil father,
Sarastro (Ulrilk Cold). The music is sublime, and the film stunning to look at with
gorgeous cinematography by Bergman favorite Sven Nykvist. "THE MAGIC FLUTE is
magical indeed, charming and musically fulfilling, a perfect co-mingling of one form of
art and another." -- Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times
Sunday November 19 - 7:45 PM
DON GIOVANNI,
1980, New Yorker, 185 min. "The finest things God ever
made," said French writer Flaubert "are the sea, Hamlet and Mozart's Don
Giovanni." Brilliantly adapted by director Joseph Losey, who transported the
action of the opera from Spain to Italy, from the nocturnal ambience of Seville to the
natural beauty of the Veneto countryside and Andrea Palladio's splendid Villa Rotonda.
Famous womanizer Don Giovanni (Ruggero Raimondi) flies from one conquest to another
until the Commendatore (John Macurdy) returns from the dead to transport Don
Giovanni to Hell to avenge the seduction of his daughter Donna Anna (Edda Moster).
With Kiri Te Kanawa as Donna Elvira. |