For the first time ever, nine full-length productions by the Royal Opera will be transmitted in high definition from Londons storied Covent Garden stage at the Royal Opera House to more than 100 screens across the United States. Conducting most of them will be former Bridgeporter Sir Antonio Pappano. And, as fate would have it, the only Connecticut movie house to participate is Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square on the Bridgeport-Fairfield border. The series will be shown on about 1,000 screens in about 40 countries. Knighted last May in ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, the 1978 Central High School graduate has served as music director of the Royal Opera since 1999. He frequently visits Bridgeport to spend time with his mother, younger brother, Patrick, and other relatives and friends. The Royal Opera House Cinema Season/Opera will kick off Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. with Puccinis Turandot. Tickets at Fairfield Cinemas are $21, plus a $1 service charge. Running time is 2 hours, 50 minutes. A guest conductor, Henrik Nanasi, will be at the helm. So Pappanos fans, friends and family must wait until early November, when the 53-year old will conduct the ROH production of Puccinis ever-popular Tosca, starring Angela Gheorghiu in the title role. (A bit confusing but ... the Royal Ballet, which also is based at the ROH, is transmitting a few of its productions to American theaters, including those in Milford, Danbury, Torrington, Manchester, Branford, Enfield and Bloomfield. Remaining ballets in the ROH/Ballet film series are Alices Adventures in Wonderland, Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., and The Nutcracker, Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit FathomEvents.) Pappano was born in a suburb of London in 1959, the son of Italian-born parents, the late voice teacher Pasquale and Carmela Maria, who met and married in Castelfranco, Miscano. In 1973, the family moved to Bridgeport. Pappano has British, U.S. and Italian citizenship and is also a knight (cavalierie) of the Republic of Italy. He studied conducting with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Music Director Emeritus Gustav Meier and piano with friend and mentor Norma Verrilli, of Fairfield. Considered among the worlds greatest conductors, Pappano is recognized for his enormous interpretive powers. Verrilli has said Pappano is well suited to conducting -- especially opera. Oh, there is such a theatrical side to Tony. He can become as ecstatic over a good bowl of marinara sauce as a Brahms symphony ... a bowl of pasta fagioli can become Shakespearean to him, Verrilli has said jokingly. In a press communique, the representatives of the ROH said that Connecticut theaters are free to add or drop showings and suggest that opera fans check local theatres for specific dates and times. With that caveat in mind, Pappano will conduct: Tosca, on or around Nov. 10; Verdis Les Vepres Siciliennes, on or around Dec. 8; Wagners Parsifal, on or around. Jan. 12; Verdis La Traviata, on or around May 11, with Renee Fleming as Violetta; and Puccinis Manon Lescaut, on or around July 20. Other operas in the series include Puccinis La Boheme, on or around Feb. 9, Mark Elder, conductor; Mozarts Don Giovanni, Nicola Luisotti, conductor; and Verdis Nabucco, with Placido Domingo in the title role, also conducted by Luisotti. Patrick Pappano, of Shelton, says the entire family is looking forward to the series and is pleased that Connecticuts sole venue is nearby. The tight-knit family often travels together to London -- both Patrick and his mother attended last Mays investiture ceremonies -- and Rome, where Sir Tony also is music director of Orchestra dellAccademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, one of Italys most renowned ensembles. Im used to seeing him face-to-face, said Patrick, laughing. But it will be a thrill to see him on the big screen ... so close to home. Turandot at Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square, 41 Black Rock Turnpike at the Bridgeport-Fairfield border. Sunday, Oct. 27, 1 p.m. $21, plus a $1 service charge.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:07:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015