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Wednesday, April 6th | 6.30pm | Screening and debate | @ AF de Miami

Florida Grand Opera present
Cyrano de Bergerac
Movie and debate

40 min, VO English Subtittle
Followed by a debate with Bernard Uzan, librettist of Cyrano and production’s stage director.
Wine and appetizers - Free Admission

In April and May, Florida Grand Opera will give performances of Cyrano, a new opera by David DiChiera with a French libretto by Bernard Uzan, which had its world premiere in Detroit in 2007. Edmund Rostand’s beloved play, Cyrano de Bergerac, has captured the world’s imagination for more than 100 years, and Florida Grand Opera has commissioned film historian Gordon K. Smith to create a survey of 10 scenes from the play and their treatment from film, stage productions, and the opera Cyrano.

Among the sources he uses is a rare, two minute scene from the play from the dawn of cinema, made in France in 1900 by Clement Maurice. Appearing as Cyrano is Benoit Constant Coquelin, who created the role of Cyrano in the original 1897 production of Rostand’s play.

Bernard Uzan, librettist of Cyrano and production’s stage director, will be on hand for remarks and a question and answer session following the screening.

The story of Cyrano de Bergerac has inspired many interpretations in the theater and on film. Edmond Rostand's famous play provided the inspiration for composer David DiChiera'a new opera, with a libretto in French by Bernard Uzan. Premiered in 2007, this very romantic opera has received standing ovations from audiences in Detroit and Philadelphia. Cyrano, a nobleman skilled in both sword and pen, has an unsightly large nose. Despite his desperate love for the beautiful Roxane, he agrees to help his younger rival, the handsome Christian, win her heart.

DiChiera wrote the roles of Cyrano and Roxane for baritone Marian Pop and soprano Leah Partridge, both of whom will reprise their critically-acclaimed world premiere performances at FGO. South Florida favorite, Leah Partridge, currently on the Metropolitan Opera roster, has given FGO audiences many memorable performances, including those in Lakmé and La sonnambula. Mark Flint, who orchestrated the opera and led the world premiere production, will conduct in his FGO debut.