Federico Fellini returned to the provincial landscape of his childhood with this carnivalesque reminiscence, recreating his hometown of Rimini in Cinecittà’s studios and rendering its daily life as a circus of social rituals, adolescent desires, male fantasies, and political subterfuge. Sketching a gallery of warmly observed comic caricatures, Fellini affectionately evokes a vanished world haloed with the glow of memory, even as he sends up authority figures representing church and state, satirizing a country stultified by Fascism. Winner of Fellini’s fourth Academy Award for best foreign-language film, Amarcord remains one of the director’s best-loved creations, beautifully weaving together Giuseppe Rottuno’s colourful Technicolor cinematography, Danilo Donati’s extravagant costumes and sets, and Nino Rota’s nostalgia-tinged score.

Screening as part of our Around the World in Technicolor Season

At one of her lavish parties, celebrated Parisan courtesan Violetta is introduced to Alfredo Germont. The two fall madly in love, and though hesitant to leave behind her life of luxury and freedom, Violetta follows her heart. But the young couple’s happiness is short-lived, as the harsh realities of life soon come knocking.

As intimate as it is sumptuous, La traviata features some of opera’s most famous melodies, and is a star vehicle for its leading soprano role sung by Ermonela Jaho. In director Richard Eyre’s world of seductive grandeur, the tender and devastating beauty at the centre of Verdi’s opera shines bright.

Cast:  

Violetta Valéry ERMONELA JAHO

Alfredo Germont GIOVANNI SALA

Giorgio Germont ALEKSEI ISAEV

Annina VEENA AKAMA-MAKIA

Doctor Grenvil BARNABY REA

Flora Bervoix ELLEN PEARSON

Baron Douphol SAM HIRD

Gastone de Letorières GIORGI GULIASHVILI

Marquis d’Obigny OSSIAN HUSKINSON

Creatives:

Music GIUSEPPE VERDI

Conductor ANTONELLO MANACORDA

Director RICHARD EYRE

Designer BOB CROWLEY

Lighting Designer JEAN KALMAN

Director of Movement JANE GIBSON