- published: 25 Nov 2013
- views: 3527983
Maria Callas, Commendatore OMRI (Greek: Μαρία Κάλλας; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977), was a Greek-American soprano, and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Some critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic interpretations, while others found her voice displeasing and considered that a defective technique was responsible for her premature decline. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini and further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. The press dubbed her La Divina.
Born in New York City and raised by an overbearing mother, she received her musical education in Greece and established her career in Italy. Forced to deal with the exigencies of wartime poverty and with myopia that left her nearly blind onstage, she endured struggles and scandal over the course of her career. She turned herself from a heavy woman into a svelte and glamorous one after a mid-career weight loss, which might have contributed to her vocal decline and the premature end of her career. The press exulted in publicizing Callas's temperamental behavior, her supposed rivalry with Renata Tebaldi and her love affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Although her dramatic life and personal tragedy have often overshadowed Callas the artist in the popular press, her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her "the Bible of opera" and her influence so enduring that, in 2006, Opera News wrote of her: "Nearly thirty years after her death, she's still the definition of the diva as artist—and still one of classical music's best-selling vocalists."
Actors: Paul McGann (actor), Colin Salmon (actor), Steven Berkoff (actor), Meredith Ostrom (actress), Lou Doillon (actress), Hugh Edwards (producer), Michael Greco (actor), Duncan Bannatyne (actor), Michael Coryer (miscellaneous crew), Jake Maskall (actor), Mark Rathbone (actor), Elizabeth Healy (costume designer), Nick Townsend (actor), Mark Tierney (writer), Mark Tierney (producer),
Plot: Steve Lynch (Greco) had the perfect London life. Once a prince of the City of London, he has a beautiful house, a beautiful wife, and his fate in the palm of his hand. Now 3 years later, on the hottest day of a brutal London summer his business is failing and his bad choices are coming due. He is forced to use all his skill and confidence to save his business, and his marriage. However, in a few brief hours his world is blasted apart by bad luck, sex, death and a secret hidden in his marriage too awful to contemplate. And always the sun beats down relentlessly on that most unforgiving city, London.
Genres: Drama, Thriller,Actors: Takis Yannopoulos (editor), Georges Corraface (actor), Georges Corraface (producer), Dimitris Piatas (actor), Vasilis Kolovos (actor), Ivonni Maltezou (actress), Alexandros Logothetis (actor), Nikos Zoiopoulos (actor), Fotini Baxevani (actress), Christos Stergioglou (actor), Akilas Karazisis (actor), Yorgos Geogleris (actor), Karolina Zapatina (miscellaneous crew), Alekos Mandilas (actor), Nikos Platyrachos (composer),
Plot: Chariton Ulianov has one great love: Life! That particular love affair however does not hamper him in his pursuit of enjoyment of her simpler pleasures. For him every woman is beautiful, every wine is superior when shared with good company and every situation an opportunity for good humor. His position as School Master in a small provincial town on the island of Corfu gives him the opportunity to disseminate his own unique philosophy especially to the students that participate in his greatest passion: the choir. His tender and playful outlook on life is an inspiration to his students who find themselves facing all the challenges of adolescence in a Greece which is facing the challenges of life under dictatorship. His best student in and out of the classroom is Gregory Ipsilantis, a talented youth who is just discovering love and all of the accompanying "sweet mysteries of life". He is the great hope of the school choir the first voice, a talent inherited from his grandfather Gregory Ipsilantis Sr., Pappou, who is the secret mentor and staunchest supporter of the school choir in its quest for victory in the 50th annual Chorale Olympiad. The Choir Olympiad is a passionate contest to say the least. Taking precedence over every other aspect of the town's everyday life: politics, family even religion takes a back seat to this most revered of contests. In general this contest becomes a much-needed catalyst for local residents to break free from social constraints and take the piss out of each other in good-humored competition. There are no holds barred the Olympiad being a great social equalizer especially in a time of social and political tribulation. Helen of Troy, a.k.a. Helen Valavani is the school's nymph of Mathematics. Coveted by all for her beauty but approached by few due to her austere demeanor she finds herself drawn to Hariton's zest for life. He loves her, genuinely, but his love of life prohibits him from loving only her: a fact with which Helen is unable to reconcile herself. Major Dimitriou, the town's new National Guard Commandant is a man caught in his own inner conflict. On the one hand his great desire is to be a bon viveur hence his envy of Hariton: from his ease with women to his ease on the billiard table. On the other hand his ambition drives him to become a perfect organ of the junta causing him to stifle his own desires on most occasions acting as an inhuman automaton. His arrival in town sets off a chain of dramatic but often amusing conflicts. A serio-comic combination of characters played against a backdrop of local intrigues and aspirations is woven into a tender tale that reminds one of films such as "Il Postino". This is a character driven social-drama that doesn't take itself too seriously and that can stir up feelings of nostalgic reminiscence in people of all ages. Proof once again that youth and beauty are always victorious even if it takes a little mischief to even the odds.
Keywords: choir, helen-of-troyActors: Telly Babasa (actor), Baldo Marro (actor), Nonong Buencamino (composer), Levi Ignacio (actor), Brando Legaspi (actor), Jeric Raval (actor), Mike Gayoso (actor), Alex David (actor), Klaudia Koronel (actress), Raymond Keannu (actor), William Mayo (director), Nognog (actor), Kid Santos (actor), Archie Cruz (actor),
Genres: Action, Romance,Actors: Bernd Eichinger (director), Bernd Eichinger (producer), Martin Moszkowicz (producer), Henning Lohner (composer), Detlev Buck (actor), Christine Neubauer (actress), Bernd Eichinger (writer), Bernd Eichinger (actor), Til Schweiger (actor), Christof Wackernagel (actor), Thomas Heinze (actor), Corinna Harfouch (actress), Stephan Kampwirth (actor), Antoine Monot Jr. (actor), Barbara Baum (costume designer),
Genres: Comedy, Crime,Actors: Reimar J. Baur (actor), Lothar Förster (actor), Christian Grashof (actor), Volkmar Kleinert (actor), Dietrich Körner (actor), Gerhard Lau (actor), Walter Lendrich (actor), Peter Reusse (actor), Günter Sonnenberg (actor), Horst Weinheimer (actor), Gudrun Ritter (actress), Simone von Zglinicki (actress), Bertolt Brecht (writer), Katja Paryla (actress), Margit Bendokat (actress),
Genres: Drama,Dear God it's me transmittin' from
This tiny place I live in Harlem
Oh heaven we have a problem
Cuz we lost all correspondence
And there's no more prophets
They've all been replaced with politics
And they have your people hostage
That's why I'm sending you this postage
If you're listening Mr. UFO man
Speak to Jesus tell him we're on earth and
Things are worse than they have ever been now
Father, it's urgent we need u
Come down
Hey now
You're my father
And I don't know what's out there
So many of us are scared
Hey now
We got people shooting people
We live in warface
I'm not talking nuclear
I ain't got there yet
Why we got intelligent mouths
on Larry King with religious doubts
While the rabbi and minister fuss
Shit, another one bites the dust
So the yellow red black and white
Send missiles in the dark of night
Probably wanna stop but don't know how
That's why Lord, we really need you now
If you're listening Mr. UFO man
Speak to Jesus tell him we're on earth and
Things are worse than they have ever been now
Father, it's urgent we need u
Come down
People around if you feel our vibe ride
Come on aboard there's enough room inside
We're flying high where heaven hides
Hope I see you on the other side
If you're listening Mr. UFO man
Speak to Jesus tell him we're on earth and
Things are worse than they have ever been now
Father, it's urgent we need u
Come down
Why we got intelligent mouths (intelligent mouths)
on Larry King with religious doubts
While the rabbi and minister fuss (while they got fuss)
Shit, another one bites the dust (another one bites the dust)
So the yellow red black and white
Send missiles in the dark of night
Probably wanna stop but don't know how
That's why Lord, we really need you now
God we need you now
If you listen Mr. UFO man
Speak to Jesus
Tell Him we're down on earth
People around if you feel our vibe ride
Come on aboard there's enough room inside
We're flying high where heaven hides