The man next to Mozart

palace that still has the decor now fully restored to its original glory.

Most opera lovers and classical music fans are familiar with the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his operas But few know the colorful life of Lorenzo Da Ponte, who served as the librettist on three of the composer’s best-known operas “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni” and Cosi fan tutte.

Da Ponte’s unusual life and his perspective of working side by side with the Austrian composer —is the subject of “Mozart and Figaro in Vienna.” It’s the latest musical film written and directed by and starring playwright-pianist Hershey Felder. Streaming at 5 p.m. Jan. 9, the film is being copresented by San Diego Repertory Theatre and nearly two dozen other U.S. theaters. Felder lives and works in Florence, Italy and all of the scenes in the movie were filmed in the Tuscan city as part of his “Live From Florence” film series.

Da Ponte was born a Jew but his family secretly changed their name and converted to Catholicism. During his long career, he served as a priest, was convicted of running a brothel in Venice and banished, went bankrupt and fled to the U.S., where he founded the first American opera house in New York

The film will feature an international cast of opera singers, including American baritones Nathan Gunn and Timothy Renner and

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Russian soprano Ekaterina Siurinaas well as members of the Italian orchestra Maggio Musicale Orchestra. Felder plays Da Ponte, both as a young musician in the Viennese court and in his final years in New York where he became a U.S. citizen and died in 1838 Felder answered a few questions about his latest project via email last week.

Q:Where did you get the idea for this piece and its focus on Da Ponte?

A:“I have always been fascinated by Da Ponte. He did work with Mozart, arguably giving

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Jill Marie Jones

Mozart the material to become eternal in the world of opera. I loved how Da Ponte spoke about Mozart, and I am quite moved about how we refer to ‘Mozart’s operas’ but not ‘Mozart and Da Ponte’s operas.’ Da Ponte was also atrue character and one could do many episodes on his life. The story is about being in the pres- talk show host Charlie Rose is 80 Actor Diane Keaton is 76 Actor Ted Lange (“The Love Boat”) is 74 Drummer George “Funky” Brown of Kool and the Gang is 73 Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 72 Actor Pamela Sue Martin (“The Poseidon Adventure, “Dynasty”) is 69 Actor Clancy Brown (“Highlander,” “SpongeBob SquarePants”) is 63 Actor Suzy Amis (“Titanic”) is 60 Actor Ricky Paull Goldin (“All My Children, “Guiding Light”) is 57 Actor Vinnie Jones (TV’s “Deception, film’s “X-Men: The Last Stand”) is 57 Drummer Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 56. Actor Joe Flanigan (“Stargate ence of genius and contributing to that genius, and perhaps not being acknowledged for having done so.”

Q:Where did you film “Mozart and Figaro in Vienna”?

A:Sadly Vienna was in complete lockdown, so we were able to film in the wonderful Palazzo Gianfigliazzi Bonaparte in the center of Florence which has exactly the interior that a late-18th-century Viennese palace, the emperor’s palace, would have The palace itself is historic and the decor dates from exactly the period that Mozart would have visited and played. It is a beautiful

Q:What would most theatergoers be surprised to learn about Mozart that only composers and pianists like yourself would know?

A:“While he was definitely scatological in his letter writing, he was much more serious and quiet in his work and relationships. The other thing is that audiences might be interested in what it is like to be around genius, as the music allows us to be, but unlike Antonio Salieri, who was portrayed in the film “Amadeus” as a jealous enemy capable (possibly) of murder very dramatic and engaging, but not historically founded. I love the film, and enjoy the drama but I also think there is aplace to tell a human story that might be a little closer to what we think happened.”

Eric Williams of

Q: pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com

What’s new with your “Live From Florence” film series, and when are you planning to return to live performances in the U.S. again?

A:“We are expanding with audiences, and interested in seeing the word of mouth. Slowly the series is garnering a life of its own and theaters do continue to share with their audiences. Theaters have a great challenge this year as this strange virus morphs and challenges theater-makers. I hope to also be back in a theater live at some point, when things are safe, but right now it is hard to know, and of course live performance requires stability for both audiences and artists, so we must hope for that and ensure its possibility.

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