Merola Opera and San Francisco Public Library Continue 'Merola Goes to the Movies' Series with OTELLO Today

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are teaming up for Merola Goes to the Movies, a new, free series that presents great opera-themed movies.

The acclaimed 1986 film version of Otello, starring Plácido Domingo and Katia Ricciarelli, will be screened today, November 3rd at 1pm in the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch (100 Larkin Street).

Each film is preceded by a short, pre-screening talk by a Merola representative, who will give an insider's look at the opera and interesting facts about the making of the film.

Giuseppe Verdi's 1887 operatic interpretation of Shakespeare's masterpiece stars Plácido Domingo & Katia Ricciarelli, plus the orchestra and chorus of La Scala. The film is directed by Franco Zeffirelli. In Italian with English subtitles. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

Admission is free. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Screenings are recommended for ages 10 and older.

Guests are welcome to enter a free drawing where you can win Merola Opera Program prizes.

For 56 years, the Merola Opera Program has been regarded as the foremost opera training program for aspiring singers, coaches and stage directors. As the cornerstone of San Francisco Opera's training and performance programs for promising young artists, Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists, including Ruth Ann Swenson , Deborah Voigt , Anna Netrebko, Patricia Racette, Sylvia McNair, Thomas Hampson, Carol Vaness, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, and Dolora Zajick among many others.

For information, visit www.Merola.org, call the Merola Opera Program at 415.565.6427 or email mop@SFOpera.com.

Pictured: Plácido Domingo stars in the title role of the 1986 film version of Otello.