Directed by Yvonne Russo, Viva Verdi! which was made in 2024 but can be seen now in pltaform, takes place at Casa Verdi, the legacy retirement home founded by famous composer Giuseppe Verdi in Milan in 1896.
The feature follows residents, aged 77 to 107, as they continue to perform, teach, and mentor international young music students, some of whom live among them.
As Verdi grew older and richer, he invested a large amount of his fortune into a place where other, poorer, less successful (and less skilled) musicians than him could live out their days in relative security and comfort.
Casa Verdi, which i sort of a “living music museum”) began operating in 1902 and has been serving elderly musicians (some well into their 80s) ever since.
Despite advanced age, many of the residents are still performing, but they see their more crucial function in being educators and mentors to young students as well as emerging adult artists.
As expected, many of the residents are Italians hailing from the opera world, but there are also members of other countries, such as Leonello Bionda, a jazz drummer of 77, who played with Chet Baker. Chitose Matsumoto, a soprano from Japan, revelas a healthy dosage ofhumor when she jokes about one reliable job she couold count on, in “Madame Butterfly.”
Claudio Giombi, a baritone who spent decades in the opera as a supporting player, still possesses a voice. He recalls performing “La bohème,” numerous times, including the Met Opera.
The film’s original song, “Sweet Dreams of Joy,”an aria composed by Emmy-winner Nicholas Pike, and performed by soprano Ana María Martínez, earned an Oscar nomination, placing Viva Verdi! among a select group of docus recognized for original song.
The docu could have been titled “Lust for Life,” to borrow the name of Minnelli’s 1956 biopic of Van Gogh, as, above all Viva Verdi! not only reflects the composer’s generosity of spirit, but also his and his disciples need or desire to share invaluable music knowledge, accumulated over decdes-spanning careers.
In the hands of another director, Viva Verdi! could have been an exercise in sentimentality, but Russo balances her text, showing awareness of a bynch of musicians who are near death as well as emphasis on living life to its fullest–until the very last breathe (of music, so to speak).
Viva Verdi! premiered at the 2024 Woodstock Film Fest and later screened at the Santa Barbara Film Fest (where I saw it).
Joining the roster of Jolt, the docu underscores the platform’s growing roster in its commitment to amplifying films that are looking to grow, and expand their audience beyond the festival circuit.
Through its Interest Delivery Network, Jolt leverages advanced data and machine learning to connect extraordinary films with their potential audiences.
Credits:
Director Yvonne Russo
Producers Christine La Monte, Yvonne Russo, Ron Simons
Writers Yvonne Russo and Christine La Monte
Music Composer: Nicholas Pike
Cinematographer: Jacek Laskus
Editors: Federico Conforti, Darianna Cardilli
