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La Traviata (1983 Film)
''La Traviata'' is a 1983 Italian film written, designed, and directed by Franco Zeffirelli. It is based on the 1853 opera ''La traviata'' with music by Giuseppe Verdi and libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Soprano Teresa Stratas, tenor Plácido Domingo, and baritone Cornell MacNeil starred in the movie, in addition to singing their roles. The film premiered in Italy in 1982 and went into general release there the following year. It opened in theatres in the U.S. on April 22, 1983. The movie's soundtrack with James Levine conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. Plot The film opens in the Paris home of courtesan Violetta Valéry, where sheets cover the furniture in dimly lit rooms. Creditors, appraisers, and movers are removing much of the artwork and ornate furnishings. One of them curiously wanders through the rooms, until he comes upon Violetta, bedridden and looking pallid and weak, and he stares at her with undisguis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Franco Zeffirelli
Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli (12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019), was an Italian stage and film director, producer, production designer and politician. He was one of the most significant opera and theatre directors of the post-World War II era, gaining both acclaim and notoriety for his lavish stagings of classical works, as well as his film adaptations of the same. A member of the Forza Italia party, he served as the Senator for Catania between 1994 until 2001. Films he directed included the Shakespearean adaptations ''The Taming of the Shrew'' (1967), starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; '' Romeo and Juliet'' (1968), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director; and ''Hamlet'' (1990), starring Mel Gibson and Glenn Close. His Biblical television miniseries '' Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977) won both national and international acclaim and is still frequently shown at Christmas and Easter in many countries. A Grande Ufficiale OMRI of the It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Courtesan
Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism for a "kept" mistress (lover), mistress or prostitute, particularly one with wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. The term historically referred to a courtier, a person who attended the Royal court, court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudalism, feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together. Prior to the Renaissance, courtesans served to convey information to visiting dignitaries, when servants could not be trusted. In Renaissance Europe, courtiers played an extremely important role in upper-class society. As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives—commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances—men and women would often seek gratification and companionship from people living at court. In fact, the verb 'to court' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Film Producer
A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, directing, editing, and arranging financing. The producer is responsible for finding and selecting promising material for development. Unless the film is based on an existing script, the producer hires a screenwriter and oversees the script's development. These activities culminate with the pitch, led by the producer, to secure the financial backing that enables production to begin. If all succeeds, the project is "greenlighted". The producer also supervises the pre-production, principal photography and post-production stages of filmmaking. A producer is also responsible for hiring a director for the film, as well as other key crew members. Whereas the director makes the creative decisions during the production, the producer typically ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ekaterina Maximova
Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova (russian: Екатерина Сергеевна Максимова; 1 February 1939 – 28 April 2009) was a Soviet and Russian ballerina of the second part of the 20th century who was internationally recognised. She was a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre for 30 years, a ballet pedagogue, People's Artist of the USSR and Russian Federation, winner of international ballet competitions, Laureate of many prestigious International and Russian awards, a professor in GITIS, Honorary professor at the Moscow State University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, and an Executive Committee member of the Russian Center of Counseil International De La Danse, UNESCO Early life Maximova was born in Moscow on 1 February 1939 to a highly educated family. Her maternal grandfather was Gustav Shpet, a Russian philosopher, historian of philosophy, psychologist, art theoretician, and interpreter (he knew 17 languages) of German-Polish descent. Her mother ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vladimir Vasiliev (dancer)
Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev (russian: Владимир Викторович Васильев; born 18 April 1940) is a Soviet and Russian ballet dancer and choreographer. He was a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and its director from 1995 to 2000. He was best known for his role of SpartacusThe Bolshoi Ballet's Spartacus at Covent Garden, review by Mark Monahan, 20 July 2010: "Forty-two years ago, Vladimir Vasiliev, the original Spartacus, threw down what by all accounts was a fearsome gauntlet. But now, it is another, entirely unrelated Vasiliev - 21-year old Ivan, returning to London with the Bolshoi after a three-year absence - who is setting the standard." and his powerful leaps and turns. He received ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pina Cei
Pina Cei (born Giuseppina Casini; 13 June 1904 – 1 February 2000) was an Italian stage, film and television actress. She appeared in more than thirty films from 1933 to 1995. Life and career The daughter of the stage actress Luisa Cei, she made her theatrical debut in 1922, in the company of Raffaele Niccoli. She later worked in several high-profile stage companies, including Emma Gramatica's and Ruggero Ruggeri Ruggero Ruggeri (14 November 1871 – 20 July 1953) was an Italian stage and film actor. Ruggeri was a celebrated theatre actor, appearing alongside Lyda Borelli on stage in 1909.Dalle Vacche p.260 From 1914 onward he sporadically made films in ...'s, until 1942, when she founded her own stage company. She made her film debut in 1933, in ''Villafranca'', in which she is credited as Pia Torriani (from her husband's surname). Her younger sister Dory was also an actress. Filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cei, Pina 1904 births 2000 deat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allan Monk
Allan James Monk, (born August 19, 1942) is a Canadian baritone singer. He appeared in the 1982 film adaptation of ''La Traviata''. Early life Monk was born in Mission, British Columbia, and grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia, where both of his parents were involved in a musical chorus where Monk was first exposed to opera. In 1957 he and his family moved to Calgary. He started voice training with Elgar Higgin and he participated in summer programs at the Banff School of Fine Arts. Career He was also a member of the Calgary Theatre Singers and played roles in productions of Carousel, Oklahoma!, Annie Get and Guys and Dolls. His first principal role was with the San Francisco Opera in 1966. In the USA his voice became famous when he attended Boris Goldovsky's summer workshops in 1963, 1964, 1966. He moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the mid-1970s to be able to perform with the Metropolitan Opera.via The Canadian Press"Fortuitous timings helped singer" ''Leader-Post'', Jun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ferruccio Furlanetto
Ferruccio Furlanetto (born 16 May 1949 in Sacile, Italy) is an Italian bass. His professional debut was in 1974 in Lonigo, he debuted at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1979, in a production of Verdi's ''Macbeth'', conducted by Claudio Abbado. He has gone on to sing numerous roles, including both Don Giovanni and Leporello in Mozart's ''Don Giovanni'', Philip II in Verdi's ''Don Carlos'', Figaro in Mozart's ''Le nozze di Figaro'', Gremin in Tchaikovsky's ''Eugene Onegin'', Zaccaria in Verdi's ''Nabucco'', Méphistophélès in Gounod's ''Faust'', Orestes in Strauss' '' Elektra'', Fiesco in Verdi's ''Simon Boccanegra'', the title role of Mussorgsky's ''Boris Godunov'', as well as many other roles. He has sung in the world's major opera houses. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1980/81 season, and has performed at the Opéra de Paris (Bastille), the Salzburg Easter Festival and the regular Salzburg Festival, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Vienna Staatsoper, the T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Anthony (tenor)
Charles Anthony Caruso (né Calogero Antonio Caruso; July 15, 1929 – February 15, 2012), better known by his stage name of Charles Anthony, was an American actor and tenor noted for his portrayal of comprimario characters in opera. Anthony had the distinction of appearing in more performances at the Metropolitan Opera than any other performer.Woolfe, Zachary (15 February 2012)"Charles Anthony Dies at 82; Sang 2,928 Times at Met" ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 16 February 2012 He celebrated his fiftieth anniversary with the company in 2004, and gave his farewell in the role of the aged Emperor Altoum in ''Turandot'', at the Met, on January 28, 2010.Barron, James (27 January 2010)"After 57 Years at the Met, a Tenor's Swan Song" ''The New York Times'' (City Room). Retrieved 30 January 2010 Early years Anthony was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the child of immigrants from Sicily. He studied music at Loyola University New Orleans, where he studied under Dorothy Hulse, also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geraldine Decker
Geraldine Decker (March 11, 1931, New York City — June 14, 2013, Oxnard, California) was an American mezzo-soprano and voice teacher who had active singing career in operas and concerts from 1971 through 2010. She was particularly active with the Metropolitan Opera and the Seattle Opera, and is best remembered for her annual performances in Seattle of Richard Wagner's ''Ring Cycle'' from 1974 to 1987. She taught on the voice faculty of Pepperdine University. Early life and education Born Geraldine Helen Rice in the Bronx, Decker moved with her family to California in her youth. She attended Corvallis High School in Studio City, California from 1945 to 1949. She soon after married her husband of 55 years, Howard Decker, with whom she had two sons, Wayne and Dirk Decker. While raising her children she pursued studies in voice with Dr. Nandor Domokos in Los Angeles. She later studied with Luisa Franceschi and her husband, baritone Ellae Verna, in New York City. Later life and c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ariel Bybee
Ariel Bybee (January 9, 1943 – March 20, 2018) was a mezzo-soprano who has had a distinguished career as a soloist, voice teacher and university opera director. According to ''Opera News'' (June 2000), she was "a prominent mezzo at the Metropolitan Opera for eighteen seasons." She sang over 460 performances at the Metropolitan Opera. Bybee received a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1965. She later took advanced musical studies in New York where one of her voice teachers was Cornelius L. Reid. Bybee was an alumna of the Music Academy of the West where she attended in 1969. Bybee was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has soloed with the Tabernacle Choir. At the 2001 dedication of the Winter Quarters, Nebraska Temple Bybee sang a solo. Performance history Bybee sang at the Met in every season from 1977-95. She first earned accolades at the Met for her performance as Jenny the whore in ''Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera, or ballet production who appears in a nonspeaking or nonsinging (silent) capacity, usually in the background (for example, in an audience or busy street scene). War films and epic films often employ background actors in large numbers: some films have featured hundreds or even thousands of paid background actors as cast members (hence the term "cast of thousands"). Likewise, grand opera can involve many background actors appearing in spectacular productions. On a film or TV set, background actors are usually referred to as "junior artists", "atmosphere", "background talent", "background performers", "background artists", "background cast members", or simply "background", while the term "extra" is rarely used. In a stage production, background actors are commonly referred to as " supernumeraries". In opera and ballet, they are called either "extras" or "supers". Casting Casting criteria fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
