June 4, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

The Italians Score With Traveling Production Of “Siddhartha, The Musical”:

In 2012, Italian filmmaker brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani submitted “Caesar Must Die” for Best Foreign Language film, which had won the Golden Bear award at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival.  

It was a gritty, hard-hitting, gut-wrenching docudrama on the making of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”

What was particularly unique about this film was that it was shot in Rome’s maximum-security Rebibbia prison where the inmates, incarcerated for a variety of crimes from murder to rape, to crimes committed in the name of the Mafia, auditioned for the parts which cumulated into a stirring, almost professional performance by each of the actor/inmates.

Once again, a play, written and directed by Isabella Biffi, based on Herman Hesse’s iconic novel, has emanated from an Italian prison, this one from Milan’s Opera jail, also a maximum-security facility housing prisoners serving life sentences for an assortment of heinous crimes.   

The play was so well put together, that the director decided to turn it into a full, professional production.  

A casting call went out and 2,000 actors from Rome and Milan auditioned for the various roles in “Siddhartha, the Musical,” which subsequently had a successful tour throughout Europe.  

Following the tour, the director and Executive Producer Fabrizio Carbon decided to carve out the songs from the original production and create a concert version, which was performed at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz Restaurant* in Bel Air on Jan. 27 and 28 and continues on its tour in the U.S. and Mexico.

Briefly, for those of you not familiar with Hermann Hesse’s iconic novel, “Siddhartha” was one of the most widely read books of the Twentieth Century, ultimately earning Hesse the Nobel Prize in 1946.  

It is the story of a young man’s spiritual journey in search of enlightenment. It takes place in the era of Gautama Buddha in ancient India.

Much to the dismay of his father, who is a Brahmin, Siddhartha breaks away from the family, becomes an ascetic, and embarks on his long journey to enlightenment, beginning with fasting, giving up all worldly possessions, and leading the life of a beggar, which is only the first in a long line of experiences and people he encounters along his spiritual path, each of which has a profound influence on him.  

As in the original play, the songs in the concert version are performed in Italian, which is a disadvantage to audiences that might not understand Italian.  That said, however, between having “The Narrator” (Michelangelo Nari) tell the story in English, and the extraordinary, emotional, breathtaking performances by this most gifted ensemble, you can pretty much understand the lyrics set to original music by Fabio Codega with a distinct pop-rock score.  It would be difficult to pick out one outstanding singer as they all possessed powerful voices that beautifully told the story.  

The outstanding cast includes Giorgio Adamo as “Siddhartha,” Paolo Gatti as “The King,” Michelangelo Nari as “The Narrator and “Govinda,” Valentina Spreca as “Yashodara,” Katy Desario as “Kamala,” and Gaetano Caruso as “Vasudeva,” with Music Director Beppe De Palma on the piano.

After experiencing these amazing singers, one could only hope that the full production will eventually come to America.

For further information, visit SiddharthaTheMusical.com.

*Hands down, the best steak I’ve ever had.

in News
Related Posts

New Business and Personal Lines Property and Casualty Insurance Paused In California

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

Allstate and State Farm Say Currently Insured Homeowners Will Not Be Affected  After State Farm announced a pause on new...

(Video) Mayor Karen Bass Speaks At The Memorial Day Ceremony At The Los Angeles National Cemetery

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

This was the first ceremony that had been held in person at The National Cemetery since 2019 and before the...

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Has Appointed A New Superintendent

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

Antonio M. Shelton, Ed.D. Appointment Will Be Effective July 1, 2023 In a late afternoon press release, The Santa Monica-Malibu...

Clerk Charged With Selling Alcohol to Minor

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

The Incident Was Part of a Minor Decoy Operation The Santa Monica Police Department issued a citation to a clerk...

Extra Officers Deployed for Motorcyclists’ Violations

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Speeding Is the Primary Cause of Motorcycle Crashes The Santa Monica Police Department deployed additional officers on patrol June 1...

Santa Monica Police Department Releases First Quarter Crime Report

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Decrease in Calls for Service, Increase in Arrests, Shifts in Part I Offenses The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has...

Free Meals for WGA Members During Strike at Bob’s Big Boy and Swingers Diner

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Comedian and Host Drew Carey Is Paying For Meals For Striking WGA Members By Dolores Quintana As the Writers Guild...

(Video) Recap of The 8th Annual “Mainopoly” Tour of Main Street Restaurants

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Come along the most recent Mainopoly tour of Main Street to check out its restaurants and shops. @smmirrornews Come tour...

Mystery Surrounds Closure of Michelin Recommended Restaurant Savida in Santa Monica

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Santa Monica’s Beloved Crudo and Seafood Restaurant Abruptly Shuts Down on April 27 By Dolores Quintana After receiving a coveted...

Salvation Army to Distribute 2,000 Donuts at Santa Monica Promenade

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

Donuts Will Be Distributed at Various Locations Throughout the City. The Salvation Army Santa Monica will commemorate its 130-year anniversary...

Santa Monica Requests $6M To Expand Memorial Park

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

An Expansion Project Would Combine the 10.3-acre Park With an Adjacent 2.9 Acre Property. By Zach Armstrong The city of...

Get Ready For Cinematic Despair: American Cinematheque Presents Bleak Week

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

Explore the Darkest Depths of Humanity in a Gripping Showcase of Bleak Cinema Get ready for a captivating week of...

Sexual Assault Suspect in Custody After Stabbing Victim’s Friend

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

The Suspect Is Responsible for Another Recent Assault. On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers from the...

Mail and Package Thieves Detained by Santa Monica Police

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

The Suspect Possessed Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Arrow Keys. Shortly before midnight on May 20, officers from the Santa Monica...