Film Series: Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema

Opera has been an enduring reference point for filmmakers and audiences since the dawn of cinema at the end of the 19th century, precisely the moment of Giacomo Puccini's artistic ascendancy. The 2016 SummerScape Film Series explores the influence of Puccini's work and operatic emotion on innovative films in all periods. It includes both cinematic adaptations of operas like Madama Butterfly and creative responses by directors such as Sergio Leone and Martin Scorsese. Special attention will be paid to the cinematic legacy of Luchino Visconti, whose explicitly operatic work has inspired several generations of filmmakers.