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IMDbPro

Farinelli

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
32 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Music
The story of castrato opera singer Carlo Broschi, who enthralled 18th-century European audiences under his stage name Farinelli.The story of castrato opera singer Carlo Broschi, who enthralled 18th-century European audiences under his stage name Farinelli.The story of castrato opera singer Carlo Broschi, who enthralled 18th-century European audiences under his stage name Farinelli.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gérard Corbiau
  • Writers
    • Andrée Corbiau(original scenario)
    • Gérard Corbiau(original scenario)
    • Marcel Beaulieu(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Stefano Dionisi
    • Enrico Lo Verso
    • Elsa Zylberstein
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gérard Corbiau
  • Writers
    • Andrée Corbiau(original scenario)
    • Gérard Corbiau(original scenario)
    • Marcel Beaulieu(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Stefano Dionisi
    • Enrico Lo Verso
    • Elsa Zylberstein
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Farinelli
    Trailer 2:16
    Farinelli

    Photos32

    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)
    Stefano Dionisi in Farinelli (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stefano Dionisi
    Stefano Dionisi
    • Carlo Broschi (Farinelli)as Carlo Broschi (Farinelli)
    Enrico Lo Verso
    Enrico Lo Verso
    • Riccardo Broschias Riccardo Broschi
    Elsa Zylberstein
    Elsa Zylberstein
    • Alexandraas Alexandra
    Caroline Cellier
    Caroline Cellier
    • Margareth Hunteras Margareth Hunter
    Marianne Basler
    Marianne Basler
    • Countess Maueras Countess Mauer
    Jacques Boudet
    Jacques Boudet
    • Felipe Vas Felipe V
    Graham Valentine
    • Prince of Walesas Prince of Wales
    Pier Paolo Capponi
    Pier Paolo Capponi
    • Broschias Broschi
    Renaud du Peloux de Saint Romain
    • Benedict Hunteras Benedict Hunter
    Delphine Zentout
    Delphine Zentout
    • Young admireras Young admirer
    Omero Antonutti
    Omero Antonutti
    • Nicola Porporaas Nicola Porpora
    Jeroen Krabbé
    Jeroen Krabbé
    • Georg Friedrich Händelas Georg Friedrich Händel
    Richard Reeves
    Jonathan Fox
    Jo Betzing
      Karl-Heinz Dickmann
      Stefan Mazel
      Wolfgang Grindemann
      • Director
        • Gérard Corbiau
      • Writers
        • Andrée Corbiau(original scenario) (adaptation) (dialogue)
        • Gérard Corbiau(original scenario) (adaptation)
        • Marcel Beaulieu(adaptation)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Both male and female voices were combined to create the sound of Farinelli's singing voice. The male voice was Derek Lee Ragin, a British countertenor and the female Ewa Małas-Godlewska, a Polish mezzo-soprano.
      • Goofs
        LIGHTING. In scenes that show stage lights and chandeliers, the focus on them is softened, but it can still be seen that the "lamps" and "candles" are in fact far too steady, and too smokeless, to be or to contain live flame. Gaslight was not brought into theatres until just after 1800 (in England), and limelight -- with real quicklime -- around 1820. Also, some outdoor lighting -- outside palaces, etc. -- is obviously too bright, blue- or green-shaded, smokeless, and sharp-edged to come from a bonfire.
      • Quotes

        Carlo Broschi: I admire your nerve, madame, in daring to defy Handel.

        Countess Mauer: Women are very strong, signor Farinelli. Men's weaknesses make it necessary.

      • Connections
        Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995)
      • Soundtracks
        Ombra fedele anch'io
        [Dario's Solo: Act II, Scene XI, from Opera "Idaspe"]

        Composed by Riccardo Broschi, Libretto by G.P. Candi and Domenico Lalli (1730, Venice)

        Vocals performed by Ewa Malas-Godlewska (Soprano) and Derek Lee Ragin (Countertenor)

      User reviews40

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      A truly excellent historical reconstruction, and a brilliant film!
      This remarkable film remains one of my favourites. The story line at first left me wondering why the director had chosen to make the film in the first place. Luscious scenery, beautiful costumes, sets, extravagant, but historically accurate stagings for the opera scenes, great language and dialogue - but why make a film about an all but forgotten singer from almost three centuries ago? Nothing in the film seemed to give a clue as to why anyone would go to all the bother of reconstructing a marvelous voice so painstakingly, and choose one of the great performers of our time to oversee the performances of the music. Repeated viewings did not seem to throw any light on the vexing question that, despite all the lushness and splendour I was still missing some point to the whole exercise. It was only on the third or fourth viewing that I noticed in the opening credits a small remark - in French - "to the memory of my daughter . . "name"". Suddenly the whole thing made sense. This marvelous and true story of the castrato is, perhaps, the directors attempt to describe his impotence in the face of the loss of his beloved child. Viewed in this light the ending of the film and the sequences in London between Farinelli and Benedict finally begin to have a poignancy and a sadness that is truly stunningly and sensitively achieved whilst adding to the story line. I love this film and cannot possibly recommend it enough. Any lover of Early Music should revel in it, but it has been lifted out of the ordinary and into the universal and sublime by that one small realization. Superlatives cannot do it justice.
      helpful•24
      8
      • srpremontre
      • Apr 1, 2005

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 17, 1995 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • France
        • Italy
        • Belgium
        • United Kingdom
      • Official site
        • Sony Pictures Classics
      • Languages
        • French
        • Italian
      • Also known as
        • 絕代艷姬
      • Filming locations
        • Spain
      • Production companies
        • Stéphan Films
        • MG
        • Italian International Film
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $1,573,411
      • Gross worldwide
        • $1,600,226
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 51 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby
        • Dolby SR
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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