Opera / Theatre Movies
Essential Opera and Theatre Movies for the top 1% WFH people of internet yos.
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- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsJoseph KaiserAmy CarsonBen DavisDuring World War I, in an unnamed country, a soldier named Tamino is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from the clutches of the supposedly evil Sarastro. But all is not as it seems.This is a great adaptation directed by the one and only Kenneth Branagh. The dubbing of the singing voices may be slightly off at times, but the voices were chosen well. It's definitly worth watching even if you are not researching a role in this opera.
- DirectorPetr WeiglStarsMagda VásáryováMilan KnazkoPremysl KocíThis is an amazing and enchanting film adaptation of Dvorak's Rusalka. It's in the original language and directed by Peter Weigl. It's hard to find, but worth looking for. The singers cast for this film are wonderful.
- DirectorPier Paolo PasoliniStarsMaria CallasMassimo GirottiLaurent TerzieffAfter his quest to retrieve the fabled Golden Fleece, Jason returns to Greece with powerful sorceress Medea. However, when the king banishes her, it's only human that Medea plots her furious revenge. Can they escape her wrath?This is Pasolini's interpretation of Cherubini's opera, Medea. This is the one and only film with Maria Callas that is made available to the public. If you are a fan of La Divina, this film is a must.
- DirectorFrédéric MitterrandStarsYing HuangRichard TroxellNing LiangThe story of a young geisha who falls madly in love with an american captain that travels all around the world collecting hearts.I only wish Martin Scorsese would direct more films based on Operas! Any film or opera lover will enjoy this film.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsGreta GarboRobert TaylorLionel BarrymoreA Parisian courtesan must choose between the young man who loves her and the callous baron who wants her, even as her own health begins to fail.Camille is based on the same play that the opera La Traviata was based on. It's a beautifully shot classic film. There is also a 1921 version of this film that is enjoyable for any classic film lover.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsHarry BelafonteDorothy DandridgePearl BaileyContemporary version of the Bizet opera, with new lyrics and an African-American cast.This is a fun, unique adaptation of Bizet's Carmen. It's in technicolor so it gets extra points for it's vividness and great cinematic style.
- DirectorVicente ArandaStarsPaz VegaLeonardo SbaragliaAntonio DechentBased on the novel by Prosper Merimee, CARMEN is the classic tale of forbidden passion between a young man (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and a spoken-for woman, Carmen (Paz Vega). It is told in flashback as the young soldier, stripped of his decorations, explains all in a prison cell. He tells of the love he had for Carmen and how it proved to be destructive.This adaptation starring Paz Vega is as gritty and depressing as Carmen gets. Compared to the Carmen Jones film, this takes things in a completly opposite direction. It's brutal and raw. This film version might be closer to what Bizet had in mind when writing his opera.
- DirectorHerbert Hall WinslowStarsLina CavalieriLucien MuratoreDorothy ArthurThe story opens in the country home of Manon and her brother, who have been brought up by a religious father. The father insists that Manon shall enter a convent for life. He compels her to go. But on the way, stopping at an inn at Amisne, she meets the Chevalier Des Grieux. It is a case of love at first sight between them. Manon and Des Grieux escape the vigilance of her traveling companions and flee to Paris. The Baron De Bretigny, a rich nobleman, occupies a residence adjoining their home in Paris. He sees the lovely Manon and, attracted by her beauty, makes her acquaintance. Failing in his attempts to separate her from Des Grieux, the Baron finally writes to Des Grieux's father, an old friend of his in Picardy. The father, objecting to his son's choice, sends his elder brother and two servants to Paris, who takes Des Grieux away by force. The Baron then bribes Manon's maid, who tells her mistress that Des Grieux has deserted her, and, as he does not return, the heartbroken girl believes he has left her forever. Alone in Paris without friends or money she is finally compelled to accept the protection of the scheming Baron. Meantime the Chevalier, believing that Manon no longer cares for him, is persuaded by his faithful friend. Abbe Tiberge, to renounce the world and become an abbe. He goes to Paris and begins his studies at St. Sulpice. But Manon is still the unforgotten object of his affections. Through the false maid Manon discovers the trick by which the Baron separated her from her lover. She leaves the Baron's house and visits the Chevalier at St. Sulpice, where, after a pathetic and emotional scene she induces him to go with her. Manon's brother, Lescaut, a dissolute and unprincipled guardsman in the army of King Louis XV, is hired by the Baron to attack the Chevalier and bring Manon back to him. Ruffians engaged by Lescaut carry out this plan. But after a furious street combat the Chevalier escapes. Manon, however, is taken to the Baron's house and kept prisoner. Here the Chevalier follows her and alone and unaided rescues her after a struggle with the perfidious Baron. The lovers leave Paris and establish themselves in a suburban villa, where Lescaut comes and convinces them that he had no part in the plot. Their financial circumstances go from bad to worse. Des Grieux finds himself beset by creditors and is finally persuaded by his false friend, Lescaut, to gamble at a fashionable club in Paris. The Baron is present, induces the Chevalier to play with him and accuses him of cheating at cards. Manon interferes, but both are arrested and thrown into separate prisons. The Chevalier escapes from St. Lazare after wounding a guard and compelling the prison governor to open the doors for him. Meantime Lescaut has quarreled with the Baron and decides to help the Chevalier rescue Manon from the Magdalen. This is accomplished, and disguised in boy's clothes, Manon escapes in a coach with the Chevalier, driven by Lescaut. The prison guards start in pursuit. The coach is wrecked in an accident, Lescaut is killed and Manon recaptured. Taken back to prison she is sentenced to be transported to America, to the French province of Louisiana, as was the custom of that period. Chained to a number of unfortunate women prisoners Manon is taken to Havre. Des Grieux follows, seeking for some means of saving her, but finding none he smuggles himself as a stowaway on board the ship, which carries his beloved to far-away New Orleans. In the new world Manon and the Chevalier are kindly treated by the Louisiana Governor. But when the Governor's nephew becomes infatuated with Manon the Governor decides to separate them on his nephew's account. The Chevalier fights a duel with the nephew, then escapes with Manon to the forests, where she dies.I wish this film was more widely available. It stars the classic Lina Cavalieri.
- DirectorClemente FracassiStarsRenata TebaldiEbe StignaniGino BechiAida, featuring the actress Sophia Loren, is a film adaptation of a theatre performance written by Verdi. The plot revolves around the character Radames who falls in love with what he thinks is a slave in a country his armies has conquered. The young woman is actually the daughter of the leader he ousted.This film version of Verdi's masterpiece has Sophia Loren cast as Aida dubbed with Renata Tebaldi's beautiful voice.
- DirectorMartha FiennesStarsRalph FiennesLiv TylerToby StephensRussia, 1820s: Onegin inherits his uncle's country estate and moves there from St. Petersburg. He befriends his neighbor, Lensky, and meets Tatyana through him. She falls in love with Onegin but he just wants friendship.Tchaikovsky based his opera Eugene Onegin on the same novel by Pushkin that this film was based on. It's a beautiful and haunting film.
- DirectorDustin HoffmanStarsMaggie SmithMichael GambonBilly ConnollyAt a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean (Dame Maggie Smith), an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.
- DirectorChristopher MenaulStarsRichard E. GrantSarah BrightmanMía MaestroSpurred on by playful jibes he is little more than a city suit living capitalist's dream, this frustrated amateur opera singer decides to throw an opera in his lavish country retreat.
- DirectorCarlos SauraStarsTobias MorettiEulàlia RamonSergi RocaA drama based on the life of 18th century Italian lyricist Lorenzo da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart on his "Don Giovanni" opera.
- DirectorMichael SturmingerStarsJohn MalkovichVeronica FerresFlorian BoeschTwo stories about the greatest seducer of all time, Giacomo Casanova.
- DirectorRobert DornhelmStarsAnna NetrebkoRolando VillazónNicole CabellThe opera "La Bohème" is about the tragic love story of Mimí and Rodolfo, set in Paris in the year 1830.
- DirectorJens NeubertStarsFranz GrundheberBenno SchollumJuliane Banse'Hunter's Bride' traces the romantic rivalry between two veterans of the Napoleonic Wars who vie for the heart of the same woman.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsPlácido DomingoKatia RicciarelliJustino DíazVerdi's famous opera is brought to life in this production. The immortal tale of the noble Moor and his beautiful young wife, and of his lieutenant, whose jealousy and lust for power lead him to commit the ultimate treason.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsYelena ObraztsovaPlácido DomingoRenato BrusonTurridu is spotted by his wife, Santuzza, returning from the home of his lover, Lola. He is also seen on the road by Lola's husband, Alfio. While he suspects nothing, Santuzza knows exactly what's happened. Ever loyal, though, she decides to confront her husband instead of telling Alfio.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsTeresa StratasPlácido DomingoJuan PonsThe story is set in southern Italy and recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsTeresa StratasPlácido DomingoCornell MacNeilVioletta meets Alfredo and quickly falls for him. After the lovers run away together, they live in bliss for a short time. However, Alfredo's father, Giorgio, starts to interfere, concerned that Violetta's bad reputation will affect the marriage prospects of Alfredo's sister. Violetta reluctantly leaves Alfredo, but his love is so strong that it leads him to actions that have tragic consequences.
- DirectorGötz FriedrichStarsLeonie RysanekAstrid VarnayCatarina LigendzaRichard Strauss' classic opera version of the ancient Greek tragedy about the princess Elektra, who dreams of avenging her father Agamemnon's murder by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover.
- DirectorGötz FriedrichStarsKaran ArmstrongGabriel BacquierUlrik ColdWhen Sir John Falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of Window wives: Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. When they put their heads together and compare missives, they plan a practical joke or two to teach the knight a lesson. But Mistress Ford's husband is a very jealous man and is pumping Falstaff for information of the affair. Meanwhile the Pages' daughter Anne is besieged by suitors.
- DirectorBarbara Willis SweeteStarsRoberto AlagnaAngela GheorghiuTito BeltránWilliam Shakespeare's classic tale of passion, rage and the corruption of youth retold on the mean streets of Providence, Rhode Island.
- DirectorBenoît JacquotStarsAngela GheorghiuRoberto AlagnaRuggero RaimondiBenoit Jacquot reinvents the way we view opera in this magnificent production of Puccini's story of Tosca's love for the painter Cavaradossi and the intervention of Scarpia.