Feature Film Version of La Boh’me, Starring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villaz’n, Launches Opera Series This September

‘An intimate staging of Puccini’s tragic love story, which nevertheless retains the feel of a live performance and shows why Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villaz’n are currently considered two of opera’s biggest stars.’

_ Independent (London)

Anna Netrebko, who has graced silver screens for the past three years in “The Met: Live In HD” broadcasts, returns to movie theaters across America this September, when Emerging Pictures releases a feature film version of Puccini’s La Boh’me, starring the Russian soprano alongside Mexican tenor Rolando Villaz’n. London’s Times calls the film ‘starry and sumptuous,’ while according to Classic FM magazine, ‘The lavish sets and special effects give rise to an extraordinary theatrical opera film.’

The Cape Ann Community Cinema, located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester, will present the film event at 2:30pm on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th for a special price of $12.00, all seats. The special event marks the start of the CACC’s fall and winter opera season.

The theatrical trailer for La Boh’me can be viewed at http://labohemethemovie.com/trailer.htm.

The movie, which was filmed in 2008 in Vienna and is directed by Oscar- and Emmy-nominated director Robert Dornhelm, will be shown in theaters in select cities starting this month. To coincide with the film’s screenings, Deutsche Grammophon will issue an iTunes exclusive release called “La Boh’me _ Five Favorites,” which will feature five must-have selections from the full-length version of Netrebko and Villaz’n’s recording of the opera, and which will be available for only $3.99. A more traditional highlights recording will follow, both in physical and digital versions, later in the year. Netrebko and Villaz’n’s complete recording of La Boh’me, which is used as the movie’s soundtrack, was released in 2008 on DG.

London’s Times, in reviewing Netrebko’s full-length recording of La Boh’me, asserts, ‘It is succulently dramatic _ a tribute ‘ to the stars’ power.’ The San Francisco Chronicle wrote: ‘[Villaz’n] sounds relaxed and lyrical as the young poet. His high notes in the climaxes are vibrant and attacked cleanly ‘ . Netrebko, too, is in excellent voice, her gleaming soprano filling out Mim”s wistful phrases with grace and sensitivity.’

The film’s official site is http://www.labohemethemovie.com.

Additionally, the CACC’s “Opera On The Island” series continues through the fall and winter with the following operas:

10/10/09: Walkure

11/14/09: Cosi Fan Tutte

12/7/09: Carmen – LIVE (Inaugural Opera of La Scala’s 2009-10 Season)

12/22/09: Il Trovatore – LIVE

Tickets for regular operas are $17.50, $15.00 for members. Tickets for live operas are $24.00, $22.00. Tickets for all operas are available at the cinema or online at http://www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

For more information about La Boh’me, to obtain a screener or to arrange an interview with director Robert Dornhelm, please contact: Josh Green, Emerging Pictures, tel: (212) 245-6767 or josh@emergingpictures.com.

For more information about The Cape Ann Community Cinema, please contact: Robert Newton (Creative Director), tel: (978) 309-8448 or RobertNewton@MassBayFilmProject.org.

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Robert Newton

Managing Director

The Cape Ann Community Cinema

21 Main Street – 2nd Floor

Gloucester, MA 01930

(978) 309-8448

http://www.CapeAnnCinema.com

AIM: MassBayFilm