September 16, Friday, 7 pm
Pasaka Cinema, Šv. Ignoto g. 4/3
The Full Monteverdi (United Kingdom, 2007)
A modern romantic drama based on Monteverdi‘s madrigals
John La Bouchardière, director
Robert Hollingworth, music director
Cast: I FAGIOLINI ensemble
The film is based on music from the Fourth Book of Madrigals (1603) by the early Baroque genius Claudio Monteverdi, which, speaking of the emotions of former lovers moves audiences with its dramatic yet contemporary portrayal. The Full Monteverdi combines the experiences of six couples breaking up into one story – starting with a moment revealing the harsh truth and developing into vengeful anger, sensual longing and dreams of reconciliation. Pulling the most sensitive heart strings in all of us, the film takes audiences on an emotional journey and surfaces as an unforgettable and contemporary image of love in our times.
Seated in a restaurant, the six couples begin to quarrel over dinner by candlelight. Everything that kept them together is now crumbling apart before their eyes. The couples fight over moments in the past, then reflect on better times and unrealized dreams. Onlookers are drawn to the interactions of their fellow diners, yet also wary of their invasive gaze. Ultimately, the six lovers are left to contemplate life alone, each absorbed in their own memories. The film takes place over an evening and following morning, with several scenes shot as flashback, giving viewers the back-story to the lovers’ downfall.
It is one of the most beautiful examples of early Baroque vocal music wrapt up in a contemporary drama and transferred to the film screen. A screening such as this can leave no one unmoved – unless perhaps those who ended up marrying their childhood sweethearts and lived happily ever after.
John La Bouchardière was born in Hampshire, was a chorister at Magdalen College, Oxford, and studied music, drama and opera to post-graduate level at Birmingham University. He worked as an assistant and revival director for companies including BBC, Channel 4 (Operatunity), English National Opera (where he was on staff from 1996 to 2000), New Israeli Opera, Opera Graz, Opéra National du Rhin, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Teatro Liceu (Barcelona) Vlaamse Opera, Teatro São Carlos (Lisbon) and La Fenice.
As a director in his own right, his productions include Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, Dido & Æneas, Epitaphium Carpentarij & Intermède pour "Un mariage forcé" (Charpentier), La dafne (da Gagliano), Orphée et Eurydice and San Giovanni Battista for Barber Institute of Fine Arts / Birmingham Early Music Festival; Susannah (Floyd) for Midlands Arts Centre, Carmen for Sutton Theatre, Essential Scottish Opera; scenes for The Royal College and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; The Beggars' Opera for St. Alban's Chamber Opera; Die Fledermaus for Eastern Opera; The Full Monteverdi with I Fagiolini, international tour and winning a Royal Philharmonic Society Award; The Medium and Ten Belles for RWCMD; Rigoletto for Opera Holland Park; Eugene Onegin, Semele and Tamerlano for Scottish Opera; Don Giovanni in Varna, Bulgaria; Kvinneliv for Sommersang, Ringve; Semele for Florentine Opera, Milwaukee; Carmen for Opera Nordfjordeid and Giasone for Royal Academy of Music.
John's film The Full Monteverdi, based on his live production, has been released worldwide in cinemas, on television and DVD. He is creative director of Polyphonic Films Ltd.
Web Site of The Full Monteverdi film