
Zeffirelli died in Rome on 15th June 2019. His filmography also included The Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Hamlet (1990) with Mel Gibson, Helena Bonham Carter and Glenn Close, and the 1977 mini-series Jesus of Nazareth, with Robert Powell in the title-role and Hussey as his mother.

Shakespeare was Zeffirelli’s other great passion shortly after his landmark Lucia with Sutherland, he directed Judi Dench and John Stride in Romeo and Juliet at the Old Vic, and eight years later his film of the play (starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, with an unseen Olivier delivering the prologue and Nino Rota providing the soundtrack) saw him nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for Best Director. Though the standard Italian repertoire was his main enthusiasm, Zeffirelli also directed and designed the premieres of several new operas, including Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra, which opened the new Metropolitan Opera in 1966 Zeffirelli also prepared the libretto from Shakespeare’s original text. He also directed several critically-acclaimed film-versions of operas, including a 1982 Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci (filmed partly on location in Sicily), and a BAFTA-winning 1983 Traviata starring Teresa Stratas and Plácido Domingo.
#FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI JESUS OF NAZARETH DVD TV#
He made his first forays into directing as well as designing opera in the 1950s, initially in his native Italy and subsequently further afield, establishing close relationships with both Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas he directed the 1959 Covent Garden production of Lucia di Lammermoor which made Sutherland an international star (a Guardian review of the opening night observed that ‘Zeffirelli deserves his place in the catalogue of excellence’), and also created the now-iconic staging of Tosca which Callas debuted at the same theatre in 1964, with Tito Gobbi as Scarpia (‘I all but jumped off the parapet at the end to ensure everything was perfect’, Zeffirelli declared some 45 years later).įrom the late 1960s onwards Zeffirelli forged a hugely successful film career in parallel to his work in the theatre, and his approach to opera was often grandly cinematic – teeming with supernumeraries and even on some occasions livestock, his large-scale, no-expense-spared productions were eminently suited to the enormous stages of the Metropolitan Opera and in particular the open-air amphitheatre of Verona. Rent Jesus of Nazareth (1977) starring Robert Powell and Olivia Hussey on DVD and Blu-ray. Franco Zeffirellis epic TV retelling of Jesus life was filmed in Morocco and Tunisia with an all-star cast, including Robert Powell in the lead role. A star-studded international cast, featuring Michael York, Sir Laurence Olivier, James Earl. Starring Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Lawrence Oliver, James Mason, Anthony Quinn, and many more. Beginning before the nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus of Nazareth brings to life all the majesty and sweeping drama of the life of Jesus (portrayed here by Robert Powell) as told in the Gospels. Six hours of superb acting, powerful music and outstanding cinematography. This acclaimed production tells the greatest of all stories with tremendous emotion and splendor. Jesus of Nazareth (1977) / A Nazareti Jezus / Region 2 PAL DVD / Audio: English, Hungarian / Actors: Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Laurence Olivier, James Mason / Director: Franco Zeffirelli / 270 minutes 5998282102749 Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection Jesus Of Nazareth brings to life all the majesty and sweeping drama of the life of Jesus. In many celebrated scores, Rozsa clearly defined. This comprehensive and faithful film features a distinguished international cast and locations specially chosen for their pure and simple resemblance to Palestine at the time of Jesus. It is amazing to realize how much our perception of what Roman epic music must sound like has changed, once we have been exposed to Miklos Rozsa.

Franco Zeffirelli's production is acclaimed for its thorough Biblical and historical research. This comprehensive and faithful film features a distinguished international cast and locations specially chosen for their pure and simple. James Mason, Anthony Quinn and Anne Bancroft are included in the all-star cast. Jesus of Nazareth is a unique film depicting the life of Christ from His birth through His resurrection.

Jesus of Nazareth is a unique film depicting the life of Christ from His birth through His resurrection. Franco Zeffirelli creates an unforgettable portrait in his legendary interpretation of the life of Jesus.
