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18 unusual facts about Franco Zeffirelli


Angela Bettis

Her debut role was a lead in the romantic tragedy, Sparrow, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, at the age of eighteen.

Burn of Muchalls

Just above the discharge to the North Sea is a scenic pool, used in the drowning scene of Ophelia in the Franco Zeffirelli film Hamlet.

Dallas Opera

Callas returned the following year to perform in La traviata in a production by Franco Zeffirelli and in Medea, directed by the Greek director, Alexis Minotis, two of her infrequent performances in the United States.

Ekaterina Maximova

She and her husband gained wide exposure for their appearances in Franco Zeffirelli's filmed version of Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata (1983).

Eva Alexander

In 1993 Alexander appeared (under her real name) in Franco Zeffirelli's film Storia di una capinera (aka Sparrow).

Janet Mead

Festival asked her to record a cover of the Donovan song "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" which had been written for the soundtrack of the Franco Zeffirelli film of the same name, but Martin Erdman wanted to record a rock arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer" to serve as the B-side and so a one-hit wonder was born.

Joanna Dunham

As a teenaged actress she first gained notice for playing Juliet in the 1962 Old Vic production of Romeo and Juliet, under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli, which was performed in a five-month, 13-city U.S. tour.

John McEnery

His first notable screen role was in 1968 as Mercutio in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet; he was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance.

John Stride

During the 1960s he appeared at the Old Vic as Romeo in Franco Zeffirelli's long-running production of Romeo and Juliet with Judi Dench, and also as Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part 1.

Keith Skinner

His career began when he starred as Bruno in the 1966 film Mademoiselle, and more notably perhaps in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet as Balthasar, Romeo's manservant and trusted friend.

Krio language

In 2007, work was completed on an unsanctioned, dubbed Krio version of Franco Zeffirelli's 1977 film Jesus of Nazareth The dubs were recorded by a team of over 14 native Krio speakers, over a period of 9 months in the Lungi region of Sierra Leone.

Leanne Rowe

Rowe made her film and professional debut at the age of 12, playing Helen Burns in Franco Zeffirelli's Jane Eyre.

Our Tune

At first this would be any music of the genre that Bates could find, but after he played Nino Rota's theme to Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet this became the official music of Our Tune.

Pat Heywood

In 1968 her movie debut at the age of 36 was as Juliet's nurse in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet.

Penelope Milford

She plays a supporting role in the 1981 film Take This Job and Shove It, starring Barbara Hershey and also in 1981 appears in the Franco Zeffirelli Oscar nominated Endless Love, starring Brooke Shields and Shirley Knight.

Richard Warwick

He was born Richard Carey Winter, the third of four sons, at Meopham, Kent and made his film debut in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 production of Romeo and Juliet in the role of Gregory.

Simon Bates

Over Nino Rota's theme to Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, Bates read a sentimental story sent by a listener, ending with a record chosen by the correspondent.

Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag?

Rather than be determined by conventional career moves, he was energised by his collaborations with the Great Originals described within the two volumes of his autobiography, such as those with Joan Littlewood, Tony Richardson, Peter Sellars, Franco Zeffirelli, Daniel Barenboim, Peter Brook and Terence Donovan, whose spirit and energy infused his every day.


Antonello Palombi

On 10 December 2006 he was thrust into the media spotlight in Franco Zeffirelli's new production of Aida at La Scala, which opened the theatre's 2006/2007 season.

Éva Marton

She has also portrayed Turandot in six television and video productions, including a Vienna State Opera production directed by Harold Prince, a Metropolitan Opera production created by Franco Zeffirelli production and a production designed by David Hockney filmed at the San Francisco Opera.

Fedora Barbieri

Barbieri can be seen and heard in the role of Madelon on a DVD of the opera "Andrea Chénier", which stars Plácido Domingo, issued by the Bel Canto Society; also as Giovanna in "Rigoletto" filmed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle with Luciano Pavarotti, and again with Domingo as Mamma Lucia in Franco Zeffirelli's "Cavalleria rusticana".

Nicola Rescigno

While there he conducted the U.S. debuts of such singers as Teresa Berganza, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Gwyneth Jones, Magda Olivero, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, and stage director Franco Zeffirelli.

Oksana Dyka

She won the 2003 Marseilles International Opera competition which lead to her performance as Tosca at the National Opera of Montpellier in 2005, a role which she sang again that year at the Estonian National Opera opposite Sergei Leiferkus as Scarpia, at the Dalhalla Opera Festival in Sweden; in 2008 she sang that role at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and at the Arena di Verona.

Rolando Panerai

His acting skills and stage charisma were appreciated by great directors such as Giorgio Strehler, Franco Zeffirelli and Luchino Visconti.

Teatro Petruzzelli

The interior was also used as a location by directors such as Franco Zeffirelli and Alberto Sordi, whose Polvere di stelle was shot there.