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Synopsis
“My principal motivation in filming the opera ‘La Bohème’ is to set a memorial to the singers Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón,” says director Robert Dornhelm, adding: “I think that this film, this music, this story will beguile not just opera lovers.” The pairing of one of the most beloved operas of all time with the world’s current “dream team” of singers is a recipe for success. Netrebko and Villazón have been moving hearts and CDs at a phenomenal pace since their 2005 Salzburg “La Traviata.” Their CD “Duets” ranked third on the pop charts. The concert they gave to a crowd of 20,000 at Berlin’s Waldbühne for the Football World Cup in 2006 was aired in 27 countries around the world. Their “Manon” at the Berlin Opera was a glittering cinematic fable. Now, after conquering the stage, they lay claim to the big screen. Produced by Unitel and Vienna’s MR Film with a budget of five million euros, the theatrical film is helmed by Hollywood director Robert Dornhelm, Oscar nominee for “The Children of Theater Street” and most recently director of the sensational four-part TV adaptation of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” His documentary film “Karajan – Or Beauty As I See It” (also produced by Unitel, in coproduction with ZDF and ORF) honors the great conductor on his 100th birthday. “La Bohème” shares a long history with Unitel and can boast at least three “firsts”: it was the first opera film to be produced by Unitel, the first music film conducted by Herbert von Karajan, and the first major film production by Franco Zeffirelli, known until then chiefly as a stage director. Produced in 1965, Unitel’s “La Bohème” was based on Zeffirelli’s acclaimed 1963 La Scala production and featured Mirella Freni and Gianni Raimondi as the star-crossed lovers. Herbert von Karajan conducted the chorus and orchestra of Milan’s La Scala. This production was followed in 1988 by Luigi Comencini’s modern-day interpretation with Barbara Hendricks and José Carreras. Now, 20 years later, Robert Dornhelm brings the opera to the big screen once again, with “gentle, light-footed naturalism” (Dornhelm) – a unique film guaranteed to engrave itself into the minds and hearts of generations of music lovers.
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