Page 61 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

Rialto Cinemas 6868 McKinley S, Sebastopol. Showtimes & 707 525-4840, rialtocinemas.com, $8-$35
Nov 4 ~ The Portal ~ Q&A w/ Tom Cronin, Jacqui Fifer & Dr. Julia Mossbridge, 1p & 7p
Nov 6 ~ Bolshoi Ballet: Raymonda ~ Alexander Glazunov. Choreography by Marius Petipa. 1p & 6:30p
Nov 7 - Nov 16 ~ National Theatre Live: Hansard ~ by Simon Woods. Hansard; noun The official report of all parliamentary debates. 11/7: 7p, 11/16: 10a
Nov9-Nov13~TheMetOperaLive: Madama Butterfly ~ Leading soprano Hui He takes title role of the doomed geisha. 11/9: 10a, 11/13: 12:30p & 6:30p
Nov 14 ~ Great Art On Screen: The Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders ~ Telling the story of Spain and beyond, 1p & 7p
Nov 23 - Nov 27 ~ The Met Opera Live in HD 2019/20 Season: Akhnaten ~ Star countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo is the title pharaoh. 11/23: 10a, 11/27: 12:30p & 6:30p
Thru - Nov 12 ~ Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival ~ Newest and best Jewish films. $11+ matinee shows, 1p, $14, evening, 7p; $12 & $15, door
Thru - Nov 19 ~ National Theatre Live: Fleabag ~ Hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show. 10/2: 7p, 10/19: 10a, 11/19: 1p & 7p
Blindspotting Nov. 22–Nov. 24 at Sonoma Film Institute
Pavarotti
Our SELECTION of FILMS you may enjoy.
Nov 13 ~ Let’s Talk About Death - Film and Discussion Evening ~ Disney film Coco. $5-$15 donation, 6:30- 9p, Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, Final Passages, finalpassages.org
glorious voice but that is not what made him great. He had a flamboyant charm and was larger than life, an actor who could transmute poignancy on stage with his arias conveying vitality, electricity. He took
By Diane McCurdy
Luciano Pavarotti had a magnificent, a
the art form out of the realm of the elites and the snobs and placed it into the arms of
the masses where it most justifiably belongs because that is where it was born.
Director, Ron Howard who is little Opie of The Andy Griffith Show all grown up and with an Academy Award win under his
belt brings us a masterful portrait of a great artist. He weaves Pavarotti’s story together with clips from his performances. It is likely that there will not be a performance for a millennial that will equal that of the three tenors in concert: Pavarotti, Jose Carrerras and Placido Domingo.
To the chagrin of some purists the beloved singer consorted with “pop” stars. Howard has said that if he were still alive today Pavarotti would be collaborating with Jay-Z. He was everyone’s friend, Princess Diana, Bono, Nelson Mendela. It is interesting that both his wives as well as a mistress consented to be interviewed for this piece. All attempt to convey the sense of joy he emanated. He is especially warm when interacting with his daughters.
Born in the Italian village of Modena, his father was a baker and an amateur tenor. Pavarotti was working
as an elementary school teacher when he was offered the part of Rodolfo in La Boheme filling in for the lead. Encouraged by his mother
he continued to pursue
his dreams and became an international superstar.
Eventually he parlayed that prodigious popularity into helping others and toward the end of his career was involved
Sonoma Film Institute Sonoma State University, 1801 E Cotati Ave, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall, Rohnert Park,
Suggested Donation $5
Nov 1-3 ~ The River ~ Eleanor Nichols will introduce The River on Friday night ONLY. 11/1: 7p, 11/3: 4p, 7p
Nov 8-10 ~ What You Gonna Do when The World’s on Fire? This is a passionately urgent and strangely lyrical film experience. 11/8: 7p, 11/10: 4p, 7p
Nov 15 - Nov 17 ~ Gumshoe ~ Albert Finney is Eddie Ginley, a bingo caller in Liverpool who dreams of being a private detective. 11/15: 7p, 11/17: 4p, 7p
Nov 22 - Nov 24 ~ Blindspotting ~ Set in Oakland: black Americans’ mind-bending fear of prejudiced & trigger-happy police officers. 11/22: 7p, 11/24: 4p, 7p
Dec 6 ~ Funny Face ~ Paris-set musical featuring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. Directed by the legendary Stanley Donen. 7p
Our print edition pages can only hold PART of what comes our way...
in many charitable activities. Although he was modest and unassuming, he would acknowledge that his voice was a “gift from God”.
Howard also has a gift for making a documentary that is well-crafted and illuminates the singer’s career. He knows how to splice his interviews and film clips in a sequence that keeps the narrative perking. He does not shy away from mentioning the subject’s weaknesses. Maybe too quickly we forgive
him his indiscretions because of his teddy bear persona and his consummate artistry.
One need not be an opera buff to enjoy this film. When the tenor hits a series of high “C’s” in the opera La Fille du Regiment, you will have chills. Pavarotti has achieved his immortality on vinyl, his voice forever imprinted on CD’s and now with this just released DVD.
SEARCH Diane McCurdy on our website for DVD/Film and BOOK Reviews: www.SonomaCountyGazette.com
all month long. Visit our website @
SonomaCountyGazette.com
for the rest of the story!!
11/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 61