“Callas? She was pure electricity.” —Leonard Bernstein
PROGRAM 1
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 1:30 Walter Reade Theater
Vissi d’Arte: A Documentary
This very rare documentary produced for French television in the 1970s is probably the most comprehensive examination of the artistry of Maria Callas. Director Alain Ferrari speaks with an impressive array of witnesses to the diva’s work and her daily life, including Giuseppe di Stefano, Jon Vickers, Carlo Maria Giulini, and even Franco Zeffirelli, along with a moving account from Callas’s teacher Elvira de Hidalgo of the singer’s complicated personality.
This performance is approximately one hour and 15 minutes long, with no intermission.
Single Tickets
PROGRAM 2
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 3:30 Walter Reade Theater
Film and Panel Discussion The Hamburg Concert: 1959
Exploring Callas’s full range, this program with the NDR Sinfonieorchester and conductor Nicolas Rescigno brings us from the comedy of Rossini’s Il barbiere through the dark, dramatic tones of Verdi’s Lady Macbeth and the bel canto splendors of Spontini’s La Vestale and Bellini’s Il Pirata. Opera News features editor Brian Kellow will then lead a panel, including Martina Arroyo, Ken Benson, Ira Siff, and Stephen Wadsworth, in conversation about Callas’s unique artistry and place among the great singers of the 20th century.
Prod.: NDR. 1959. Film portion is 60 minutes.
This performance is approximately one hour and 45 minutes long, with no intermission.
Single Tickets
PROGRAM 3
Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 2:00 Walter Reade Theater
Callas in Conversation and On Stage
This third program brings us deeper into the emotion, humor, and virtuosity of Maria Callas with selections from performances and conversations, including a startling excerpt from a rehearsal at the Opéra de Paris, an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and a revealing conversation with Luchino Visconti.
Introduction by Brian Kellow
This program is approximately one hour and 25 minutes long, with no intermission.
