Summer Sonata - A Festival of Opera, Ballet and Concert Films Dedicated to the Memory of Dr. R.P. Jain

Start Date : 7^th June 2023

Curated and Introduced by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji

SCREENING SCHEDULE

Wednesday,7 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

Vincenzo Bellini: La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker)

(138 min; 2010; dvd; English subtitles)

With Natalie Dessay (Amina); Juan Diego Florez (Elvino); Michele Pertusi (Count Rodolfo); Jennifer Black (Lisa); Jane Bunnell (Teresa); Jeremy Galyon (Alessio); Bernard Fitch (Notary)

International bel canto stars Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez play the young lovers in this tale of a young girl whose sleepwalking puts her romance in jeopardy. Mary Zimmerman s groundbreaking production offers a teasing interplay of reality and fantasy, with the opera set in a modern-day rehearsal room where the players are preparing a traditional staging of the opera. What is unmistakable is the beauty of Bellini s haunting melodies and a feast of sublime singing from the matchless duo of Dessay and Florez.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon

Saturday,10 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

Ballet

Don Quixote (85 min; dvd)

Ballet by Mikhail Baryshnikov, With Cynthia Harvey, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Richard Schafer, Brian Adams

Choreography: Mikhail Baryshnikov

Music: Ludwig Minkus

Conductor: Paul Connelly

Baryshnikov's sparkling full-length production of Don Quixote captures all the excitement, Spanish colour and humour of Cervantes original masterpiece. It is one of the most popular and joyful ballets surviving from the Imperial Russian ballet's repertory

Introduced by Samaresh Chatterji

Monday,12 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

OPENING CONCERT

Berlin 750 Years

(81 min; 1987; dvd)

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

In 1987, Berlin celebrated the 750th anniversary of its founding, and on May 1st, a significant musical event opened the official celebration of this anniversary. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of its Music Director, Herbert von Karajan, played the Divertimento in D major, K. 334 by Mozart and the sensational tone poem Thus Spake Zarathustra by Richard Strauss.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon

Thursday,20 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

Puccini: Tosca

(120 min; 2011; dvd; English subtitles)

With Angela Gheorghiu (Flora Tosca); Jonas Kaufmann (Mario Cavaradossi); Bryn Terfel (Baron Scarpia); Lukas Jakobski (Cesare Angelotti); Jeremy White (Sacristan); Hubert Francis (Spoletta); Zheng Zhong Zhou (Sciarrone); William Payne (Shepherd Boy); John Morissey (Gaoler)

A Royal Opera House Production in association with the BBC

Stage Director: Jonathan Kent

Royal Opera Chorus and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Jonathan Kent’s atmospheric and evocative production of Tosca features three of the finest singers; Angela Gheorghiu’s sensitively portrayed Tosca is paired with Jonas Kaufmann’s intense and compelling Cavaradossi, while Bryn Terfel is thrillingly malevolent as Scarpia. Antonio Pappano’s masterfully paced conducting captures all the drama and beauty of Puccini’s exhilarating opera.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon

Saturday, 24 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

BALLET

Spartacus (92 min; dvd)

Ballet by Yuri Grigorovich With Vladimir Vasiliev, Natalia Bessmertnova, Maris Liepa, Nina Timofeyeva (The Bolshoi Ballet 1977)

Music: Aram Khachaturian

Conductor: AlgisZhuratis

The inherent cinematic approach in Grigorovich’s staging of Khachaturian’s score falls perfectly in place. Vladimir Vasiliev, as the slave who leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Romans, dances and acts at a heroic level that is the performance of a lifetime. …. It is also one of the best dance films ever made.” Anna Kisselgoff (The New York Times)

Introduced by Samaresh Chatterji

Tuesday,27 June 2023 at 6:30 pm

Klemperer Conducts Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

(72 min; 1964; dvd; Black & White)

With Agnes Giebel (soprano); MargaHöffgen (contralto); Ernst Haefliger (tenor); Gustav Neidlinger (bass)

New Philharmonia Chorus and New Philharmonia Orchestra;Conductor: Otto Klemperer

A monumental interpretation of Beethoven’s iconic Choral Symphony that concludes with the Ode to Joy, conducted by one of the most towering Beethoven interpreters of his generation. Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 8th November 1964.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon