Franco Zeffirelli News

The British dramatist Sir John Mortimer has died at age 85 after a long illness. Mortimer is best known for his Rumpole of Bailey series of books, plays, and TV episodes. Horace Rumpole's speciality is defending those accused of crime in London's Old Bailey. Mortimer created Rumpole for Rumpole of the Bailey, a 1975 contribution to the BBCs Play For Today anthology series. Played with gusto by Leo McKern, the character proved popular, and was developed into a Rumpole of the Bailey television series for Thames Television and a series of books (all written by Mortimer). In September/October 2003, BBC Radio 4 broadcast four new 45-minute Rumpole dramatizations by Mortimer starring Timothy West in the title role. He also dramatised many of the real-life cases of the barrister Edward Marshall-Hall in a radio series starring ex-Doctor Who star Tom Baker. In 1986, his description of what he saw as Britain's descent into the viciousness of Thatcherism - Paradise Postponed - was televised.

Glenn Close is scheduled to be on Regis and Kelly on January 7th. Close will talk about the drama series 'Damages.' 'Damages' follows the turbulent lives of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), the nation's most revered and reviled high-stakes litigator and her bright, ambitious young prot?g? Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne).

Tony-Winner, Film Veteran, Raconteur, and Beatles Intimate Tells All (or most) in Three Free Performances of Victor Spinetti: A Very Private Diary at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts-January 5, 8, and 10

Puccini's most popular work returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, December 15, at 8:00 p.m. in the visually stunning classic production by Franco Zeffirelli. Fr?d?ric Chaslin conducts the performances which run through Saturday, January 10, 2008 and feature Mexican tenor Ram?n Vargas and Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Rodolfo and Mim?. Fellow Bohemians in the cast are portrayed by Susanna Phillips as Musetta in her Met debut, Mariusz Kwiecien as the painter Marcello, Tommi Hakala as the musician Schaunard, and Oren Gradus as the philosopher Colline. Paul Plishka sings both Benoit and Alcindoro. Massimo Giordano sings Rodolfo in the final two performances.

Puccini's most popular work returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, December 15, at 8:00 p.m. in the visually stunning classic production by Franco Zeffirelli. Fr?d?ric Chaslin conducts the performances which run through Saturday, January 10, 2008 and feature Mexican tenor Ram?n Vargas and Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Rodolfo and Mim?. Fellow Bohemians in the cast are portrayed by Susanna Phillips as Musetta in her Met debut, Mariusz Kwiecien as the painter Marcello, Tommi Hakala as the musician Schaunard, and Oren Gradus as the philosopher Colline. Paul Plishka sings both Benoit and Alcindoro. Massimo Giordano sings Rodolfo in the final two performances.

The Metropolitan Opera celebrates its 125th anniversary year with a unique gala performance on March 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., featuring Met stars in recreations of historic classic productions and high points in the company's past. Music Director James Levine conducts the evening of 26 staged scenes that, with the use of projections, and scenic and costume recreations, will evoke the Met's illustrious history.

With a string of awards and hit plays behind him Hugh Whitmore author of the Emmy winning TV films like CONCEALED ENEMIES (Emmy Award for Best Miniseries); THE FINAL DAYS (dramatisation of the Bob Woodward/Carl Bernstein book, movie credits like 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD (starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins); UTZ, (an adaptation of Bruce Chatwin's novel, which won 3 prizes at the 1992 Berlin Film Festival) and Franco Zeffirelli's JANE EYRE (starring William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg) and plays like STEVIE (starring Glenda Jackson); PACK OF LIES (starring Judi Dench); BREAKING THE CODE (starring Derek Jacobi) and THE BEST OF FRIENDS (starring John Gielgud, Rosemary Harrris) he wanted to do ‘a more intimate piece' with his latest hit ‘My Darling Clemmie'.

The Met's acclaimed production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, directed by the late Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella, returns to the stage for twelve performances beginning Friday, October 24, 2008. Reprising their portrayals in the production this season are sopranos Patricia Racette and Cristina Gallardo-Domâs in the title role, tenors Roberto Aronica and Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton, and baritone Dwayne Croft as Sharpless. Patrick Summers conducts the opera for the first time at Met.

The Met's acclaimed production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, directed by the late Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella, returns to the stage for twelve performances beginning Friday, October 24, 2008. Reprising their portrayals in the production this season are sopranos Patricia Racette and Cristina Gallardo-Domâs in the title role, tenors Roberto Aronica and Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton, and baritone Dwayne Croft as Sharpless. Patrick Summers conducts the opera for the first time at Met.

Franco Zeffirelli's lavish production of Verdi's poignant masterpiece about love and sacrifice, La Traviata, returns to the Metropolitan Opera stage on October 20 for nine performances through November 20, 2008. Anja Harteros sings the title role for the first time at the Met.

The Metropolitan Opera opens its 2008-09 season on September 22 with a gala performance that kicks off its 125th anniversary, starring Renée Fleming in three fully-staged scenes, including some of her most acclaimed portrayals. Costumes for Fleming have been specially created for each of the scenes in the Opening Night Gala by three of the world's legendary fashion designers: John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.

The Metropolitan Opera opens its 2008-09 season on September 22 with a gala performance that kicks off its 125th anniversary, starring Renée Fleming in three fully-staged scenes, including some of her most acclaimed portrayals. Costumes for Fleming have been specially created for each of the scenes in the Opening Night Gala by three of the world's legendary fashion designers: John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.

The Zeffirelli production of Aida, which was recorded in front of a live audience at Milan's La Scala in High Definition television format with Dolby Digital sound, was the premier performance in the venerable opera house's 2006-2007 Season. The production features the costumes of Maurizio Mellenotti and stars Roberto Alagna as Radames, Ildiko Komlosi as Amneris and Violeta Urmana in the title role. Riccardo Chailly conducts La Scala's orchestra, chorus and ballet company. This is the production in which Roberto Alagna angrily left the stage during the opera's second performance; the recording was made on opening night - the only one Alagna completed.

Milan's La Scala opera house was forced to cancel the first three performances of 'La Boheme' due to a labor strike.

Milan's La Scala opera house is facing the possibility of a strike by works that would cancel the first three performances of 'La Boheme'.

March provides a full roster of music and theater at Barnes & Noble (1972 Broadway at 66th St). All events are free and open to the public.

The Metropolitan Opera's 'Live in High Definition' series of live satellite transmissions into movie theaters achieved record-breaking attendance in its first weekend of the new 2007-08 season. The first transmission on Saturday, December 15-Romeo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conducted by Placido Domingo-drew a worldwide audience of 97,000.

The second season of Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition kicks off worldwide on Saturday, December 15 at 1PM (EST) with the first of the Met's eight live opera transmissions: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conducted by Plácido Domingo.

LoveMusik and 110 in the Shade orchestrator Jonathan Tunick chats with BroadwayWorld in our Tony Award nominee interview series

On May 16th, the Redgraves, Alan Rickman and more will appear at an awareness-raising event for London's Theatre Museum, which is in danger of closing