The recently relaunched Taormina Film Festival began on Friday night in the historic Teatro Antico amphitheatre in the Sicilian city, opening in a remarkable and magnificent manner with a special event titled "Pavarotti Forever." Placido Domingo, one of the members of the renowned trio The Three Tenors, alongside Pavarotti and José Carreras, joined in commemorating the legendary super-tenor through a blend of archived footage and live performances.
The 82-year-old Spanish star graced the stage with Vittorio Grigolo, an Italian opera singer often regarded as Pavarotti's potential successor. Several other esteemed classical music artists, including Marcelo Àlvarez, Aida Garifullina, and Andrea Griminelli, also participated in the event. In a conversation with Deadline after the concert, Domingo acknowledged the emotional experience of singing and then witnessing interviews and performances of the former maestro on the big screen.
"We have countless incredible memories of our friend, and it is very saddening that he cannot be here with us now. However, life goes on, and we honor these days by celebrating a great friend and artist. It was truly beautiful to sing and then gaze up at him on the screen," he expressed.
Beatrice Venezi, the co-artistic director of the film festival alongside Barrett Wissman, conducted the orchestra on the pleasant summer evening, while the artists paid homage to Pavarotti by performing some of his most renowned arias from operas such as La Bohème and Rigoletto.
Domingo and Grigolo commended Venezi's conducting skills and found it refreshing to witness a female conductor on such a significant evening. Grigolo remarked, "Luciano admired female talents in this industry, and I believe he would have been pleased to see a strong woman leading this event." The concert on Friday night also featured a selection of young talents who received support from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, established in honor of the late artist to carry on his legacy.
Venezi and Grigolo also praised Domingo's lifelong commitment to nurturing young talent within the classical music sphere. Grigolo emphasized Domingo's humility, stating, "The way he embraces young people is crucial and represents the future. Men like him and Luciano, who achieved immense success at the highest level, have played a vital role in paving the way for the younger generation."
The 69th edition of the Taormina Film Festival will witness the arrival of Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Mads Mikkelsen in the picturesque city for the Italian premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" on Sunday evening.
Prior to that, Amber Heard is expected to attend the world premiere of her supernatural period film "In the Fire," directed by Conor Allyn, who previously helmed the Frank Grillo western "No Man's Land." This film marks Heard's return to the silver screen following last year's infamous trial involving her ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Heard discreetly entered the opera gala on Friday evening, with paparazzi trailing her outside the venue. However, the opera enthusiasts inside the venue remained unperturbed as she took her seat. Another film set to have its world premiere in the coming days is "The Absence of Eden," starring Zoe Saldana and Garrett Hedlund, directed by Marco Perego. This film will be screened on June 30.
The festival will run from June 23 to July 1, 2023.
