La Boheme Comes Back to Life by Maria Vasilova

First staged in 1981, La Boheme became the most performed opera ever in the history of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Thanks to its unforgettable realistic sets, it is the 347th performance, that was staged on Saturday. Brightly costumed actors, famous cast, perfectly detailed interior and exterior scenes, all this came back to life for the first time this season, followed by a special event after the second part. The famous film and theater director, Franco Zeffirelli, was honored on the stage between the acts of Puccini` s opera. Born in Florence in 1923, he acquired experiences in many fields ( theater, cinema, opera, television ) and became very successful in these sectors. In 1940s and 1950s, Zeffirelli became assistant to famous film directors such as Antonioni, De Sica, or Rossellini. He traveled all over the world and worked for the most famous operas such as Staatsoper in Vienna, Opera House in London and in Paris and the Metropolitan in New York.Zeffirelli owes his fame to the hard work, attention and spectacularity invested into the appearance of the stage. Operas such as La Traviata, La Boheme, Turandot, Hamlet, Zeffirelli` s work can be recognized in all of these. Another well known piece, still by popular among the young generation, is the film adaptation of the most famous love story ever, Romeo and Juliette. For this movie, he was nominated for an Oscar.Actually, Franco Zeffirelli in controversial person in the world of movie and theater. For the love scene in Romeo and Juliette, the director was accused of pornography and obliged to cut out the nude scene. But his reaction was full of amusement and disgust. In addition, Zeffirelli in engaged into politics as a strong anti & Communist and defending his environmental protection, education and cultural preservation platform. "You have a voice and you have to use it," says Zeffirelli "You might be spreading the wrong gospel, but at least you do something."

related story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/arts/music/31bohe.html?ex=1364616000&en=022b04c2f1838fea&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

by Maria Vasilova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Edited by: Katarina Bosanska