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LA BOHèME
Giacomo Puccini’s immortal opera in
a high budget feature-film version
directed by Academy Award nominee
Robert Dornhelm, starring the opera
world’s "dream team", soprano Anna
Netrebko and tenor Rolando Villazón.
“Starry and sumptuous...” -The
Times
“An intimate
staging of Puccini’s tragic love
story, which nevertheless retains
the feel of a live performance and
shows why Anna Netrebko and Rolando
Villazón are currently considered
two of opera’s biggest stars.” -The
Independent
“An extraordinary theatrical opera
film...”
-Classic
FM Magazine
WATCH TRAILER
OFFICIAL SITE |
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THE STORY
Paris
in the 1830s. Four friends share a
drafty Parisian garret. Though
leading a life of privation, they
are buoyed by good spirits: the
writer Rodolfo, the painter
Marcello, the musician Schaunard and
the philosopher Colline. It is
Christmas Eve, and they decide to
celebrate in their favorite pub, the
Café Momus. Rodolfo stays behind to
finish an article. There is a knock
at the door; their neighbor Mimì,
whose candle has gone out, asks for
fire. Rodolfo is fascinated by her.
It is love at first sight!
The new lovers catch
up with Rodolfo’s friends at the
Café Momus, where Marcello‘s former
mistress Musetta turns the evening
into a spirited event. The
light-hearted mood of Rodolfo’s and
Mimì’s first days together does not
last, however, for Mimì develops a
fatal illness. Though they agree to
stay together, Mimì leaves her
lover. Only when she is desperately
ill and dying does she return to the
garret where she once was so happy –
and to Rodolfo, the man she still
loves with all her heart... |
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CAST
Mimi
Rodolfo
Musetta
Marcello
Schaunard
Colline
Benoît |
Anna Netrebko
Rolando
Villazón
Nicole
Cabell
George von
Bergen/
Boaz Daniel (Singer)
Adrian
Eröd/
Stephane Degout (Singer)
Vitalij
Kowaljow
Tiziano
Bracci |
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THE PRODUCTION
The pairing of one of
the most beloved operas of all time
with one of the world‘s most popular
operatic couples is a recipe for
success. And rarely has Puccini’s La
Bohème had such a photogenic and
engaging cast. "Director Robert
Dornhelm focuses entirely on his
stars Netrebko and Villazón, whose
incredible presence carries the film
along. There’s room for big
emotions, powerful voices, grand
opera and tremendous cinema," writes
one of Vienna’s leading dailies.
While realism characterizes the set
design and costumes, Dornhelm
conjures up a dream-like atmosphere
with mixed color and black-and-white
flashbacks, evocative fades and
other special effects. Yet the film
is fully Netrebko’s and Villazón’s.
Dornhelm made it clear from the
start that he wanted to build a
monument to the two singers. And
with this five-million-euro
production, he has amply achieved
his goal. |
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ANNA NETREBKO
Born in Krasnodar, Russia, Anna
Netrebko first attracted
international attention as a soloist
of the Mariinsky Theater (Kirov
Opera) in St. Petersburg. Her major
breakthrough came in 2002, when she
debuted both at New York’s
Metropolitan Opera and the Salzburg
Festival. She has since been singing
regularly in Salzburg, for example
in Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, as
well as at the Vienna State Opera,
the Bavarian State Opera and La
Scala. She is also a sought-after
recitalist and concert singer.
"Netrebko is in
excellent voice, her gleaming
soprano filling out Mimì’s wistful
phrases with grace and sensitivity."
(AP) |
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ROLANDO VILLAZóN
The tenor was born in
Mexico City in 1972. In 1999 he made
his break-through in Europe as Des
Grieux (Manon) in Genoa, which was
followed by his highly noted debut
as Alfredo at the Opéra de Paris in
2000. He is now a regular guest at
the world’s most prestigious opera
houses: New York and Vienna (La
Bohème), Paris (Les contes
d’Hoffmann), Los Angeles, Berlin,
Barcelona (Manon), Salzburg (La
Traviata).
"He sounds
relaxed and lyrical as the young
poet. His high notes in the climaxes
are vibrant and attacked cleanly."
(AP) |
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