The Santa Fe Opera in association with the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) will present a series of films related to the Opera's 2008 Festival Season. Screenings will take place at the Cinematheque at the Center for Contemporary Arts located at 1050 Old Pecos Trail.
The first two screenings focus on noted composer Nino Rota whose short comic opera, The Timid Twosome, will be presented as The Santa Fe Opera's One-Hour Opera in June. Acclaimed film and theater critic John Simon will offer insights on Rota's career in film at both screenings. The first, scheduled for Thursday, May 29 at 7:30 pm, will be Nights of Cabiria, one of Federico Fellini and Rota's most highly acclaimed collaborations. The second screening on Saturday, May 31 at 2:00 pm will feature selections from La dolce vita, I vitelloni and The Godfather, all of which Rota scored.
John Simon has written on theater, film, music and books for publications which include New York, Esquire, National Review, Opera News, New Republic, New Criterion, Weekly Standard and the New York Times Book Review. He has received the George Jean Nathan Award for drama criticism and the George Polk Award for film criticism. Simon is the author of seventeen books, most recently Dreamers of Dreams: Essays on Poets and Poetry, John Simon on Theater, John Simon on Film and John Simon on Music. Currently, he reviews theater for Bloomberg News, and music, film and books for Broadway.com.
Of special interest to opera lovers is the American premiere of Kenneth Branagh's The Magic Flute. The story begins on the eve of the first global war and follows a pair of young lovers whose destiny may determine the fate of nations. Tenor Joseph Kaiser, who will sing Yonas in The Santa Fe Opera production of Adriana Mater, stars as Tamino. There will be two screenings on Sunday, July 6. The first is a Gala which will begin at 4:30 pm. Kaiser will introduce the film and take questions. There will be a private reception in the CCA's Munoz/Waxman Gallery following the screening. The cost is $100 and availability is limited. A second screening begins at 7:45 pm and tickets are $12. -- www.santafeopera.org
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