Opera
plays a leading role in the history of Florentine culture. Not only was it was
here in Florence, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, that opera was
born (see ‘Claiming Beauty,’ TF 83), but other musical forms and instruments
were created here. For generations, classical music in Florence was a luxury
available to only a small percentage of the population. The educated elite were
among the few who could easily enjoy it.
Over
time, the opera has become increasingly accessible to the public, and today
opera lovers do not have to search far and wide for an enriching musical
experience in Florence. Opera is everywhere in the city: in churches and
theaters, even on street corners. And it can even be found at the local movie
theater.
Whether
you are an opera connoisseur or simply looking for an entertaining evening out,
the fourth edition of Opera al Cinema offers a culturally enriching,
out-of-the-ordinary experience and a trip straight to a world-renowned opera
house without the hassle or the expense of travel.
From
now until June 2013, here, in the city where opera began, performances are
being screened multiple times a week at the Fulgor, Principe and Fiamma theatres,
each conveniently located close to the city center. Several of these are live
streamings from opera houses in London, Paris, New York and Milan, sensational
events in this already remarkable program.
Every
Tuesday evening at Cinema Principe (via Matteotti), exciting titles will be
broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. There will be 12
screenings in total, including four live streamed performances on select
Saturday nights. Performances include Verdi’s Aida, Othello and A Masked Ball as well as Handel’s Julius Caesar and
Mozart’s The Clemency of Titus.
Featured
at the Cinema Fiamma (via Pacinotti) are performances, several of them streamed
live, from Paris, London and Milan, highlighting works by such composers as
Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Mozart and Rossini. Some exciting upcoming titles
include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,
Hansel and Gretel, The Lady of the Lake, and Notre Dame de Paris. Likewise, Cinema Fulgor (viale Maso
Finiguerra) will also be providing a wide range of beautiful opera on different
days of the week, including the Nutcracker straight from London’s Royal Opera House on December 13, 2012.
For
the best quality, performances are shot in high definition, with 5.1 audio and
Italian subtitles, making the audience members feel as though they are right
there in the Opéra national de Paris, Milan’s Teatro della Scala or New York’s
Metropolitan Opera House.
As
a bonus, between acts, there is additional content such as interviews with the
performers and directors, as well as sneak peaks at what goes on backstage
during scene changes. The audience gets an insider’s perspective on the work
that goes into making a performance seem so flawlessly put together.
Experiencing
opera is easier, less expensive and more convenient for the Florentine
community than ever before: broadcast or live streamed from the most respected
opera houses in the world in the comfort of the local movie theater, for just
15 euro. This season’s Opera al Cinema lineup surely cannot be missed (for the
full program and more information, see www.planetcinema.it).
And
you don’t even need to get all dolled up.
