The Center for Adult Learning & Living at the Osher Marin JCC presents Exploring Opera: A Director’s Journey, a multi-media meet-the-author event for opera and theater aficionados. Lotfi Mansouri will be there in person to hold a discussion about his career in opera and his new autobiography Lotfi Mansouri: An Operatic Journey. Mansouri has led a life of artistic influence in Europe and across the United States including such appointments as Resident Stage Director (Zurich Opera and Geneva Opera), Guest Stage Director (La Scala in Milan, Metropolitan Opera and City Opera in New York and major opera houses in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Tulsa, San Diego, Dallas and Santa Fe) to General Director (Canadian Opera Company and San Francisco Opera). Join opera instructor James Sokol on a fascinating behind-the-scenes journey to engage with Mansouri through an in-person interview, video performance clips, reading from his autobiography and audience Q&A. (Note: Bring a copy of Lotfi’s book for an autograph.)
WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011 – 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
WHERE: Hoytt Theater, The Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 94903
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
WHO: All Ages, Tickets are $15 advance / $20 day of event. Pre-purchase by calling 415-444-8000.
About Lotfi Mansouri
Born to parents from two of Iran's aristocratic families, Mansouri was named "Lotfollah" (meaning "kindness of God") after he was pronounced dead at birth and then was unexpectedly revived. From early childhood, he felt an attraction to Western music and culture.
His father intended that his son become a doctor, and although not inclined to study medicine, he agreed to follow his father's wishes with the provision that he be allowed to attend UCLA. Possessing a promising tenor voice, he soon found himself pursuing musical studies, however, to the neglect of his pre-med coursework. He was recruited by Irving Beckman, director of the UCLA Opera Workshop, to appear in a musical presentation opposite Carol Burnett. Mansouri realized that he did not have the obsessive dedication necessary for a vocal career. After his father refused to subsidize his musical studies any longer, he found a job to support his studies and in 1960, became an American citizen. After receiving a B.A. degree in psychology, he saw his first complete opera performance, Madama Butterfly, at the Hollywood Bowl-an experience that changed the direction of his career. When San Francisco Opera toured to Los Angeles, Mansouri performed as a supernumerary, making his "Company debut" as a soldier in Otello.
While still studying voice, Mansouri met his future wife, Marjorie Thompson, in 1952 and married her in 1954. Their daughter, Shireen, was born in 1967. To obtain teaching credentials, he began practice-teaching at a junior high school, but his physical resemblance to Enrico Caruso led to his being chosen for the title role of the 1956 film, The Day I Met Caruso. Shortly thereafter, he was invited by Los Angeles City College to direct his first complete opera production, Così fan tutte, which led to the offer of an associate professorship at UCLA. During this period, he also directed musical productions at Marymount College and received a scholarship to study with Lotte Lehmann at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where he became assistant to Dr. Herbert Graf in 1959.
When Graf subsequently became artistic director of the Zurich Opera, he offered Mansouri the position of resident stage director, which he accepted in 1960, even though it meant turning down the job of house director for the Metropolitan Opera. During his first year in Zurich, Mansouri staged four new productions: Amahl and the Night Visitors (first European production), La Traviata, Don Pasquale and Samson et Dalila. He worked at Zurich Opera until 1966. He had begun to work simultaneously at Geneva Opera in 1965 and became head stage director there in 1966, remaining in that position until 1976. During his years in Switzerland, Mansouri began working as guest director at various houses in Italy, including Milan's La Scala. He also worked at major opera houses in cities throughout North America, including Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Tulsa, San Diego, Dallas and in New York at both Metropolitan Opera and City Opera. He also directed for seven consecutive seasons at Santa Fe Opera. In 1971, he was appointed artistic adviser to the Minister of Culture of Iran where he helped to organize Tehran Opera and staged productions through 1975. In 1976, he was named general director of the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto, an organization he brought to international recognition.
In Toronto, as general director of the Canadian Opera Company for 12 years, Mansouri directed 30 new productions, 12 of them Canadian premieres, including Wozzeck, Lulu, Death in Venice, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Thomas's Hamlet (featuring the only Ophelia ever sung on stage by Dame Joan Sutherland). In 1983, under his direction, the Canadian Opera Company introduced "supertitles"-English translations of foreign libretti projected above the proscenium during performances. Mansouri's innovation spread rapidly to opera houses throughout North America and Europe and is now used for every production of the Fall Season at San Francisco Opera.
Mansouri returned to the world of film in 1981 when he was asked to direct the opera sequences in the
MGM film, Yes, Giorgio, starring Luciano Pavarotti. More recently, he directed the operatic portions of the Academy Award-winning film, Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicolas Cage.
In 1988, Lotfi Mansouri was named general director of San Francisco Opera. Mansouri lead the company in commissioning several new works which have received critical acclaim, including John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer (1992), Conrad Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons (Fall 1994), Stewart Wallace's Harvey Milk (1996) (co-commissioned with Houston Grand Opera and New York City Opera), André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire (Fall 1998), and Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking (Fall 2000). This move has helped build the house's reputation as one of the leading innovators in the United States, a reputation which is still held today.
In December of 1992, Mansouri was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Arts & Letters, one of the highest honors the French government can bestow upon a civilian. In January of 1999, Mansouri's tenure as General Director of San Francisco Opera was commemorated with the book An Operatic Odyssey: Lotfi Mansouri and San Francisco Opera, chronicling his years with the Company. He was also recently honored at a San Francisco Opera Gala Concert for over a decade of leadership and 37 years of artistic collaboration.
Towards the end of the 2001 season, Mansouri announced his resignation from San Francisco Opera. Today, he continues to direct opera productions with several companies.
About the Osher Marin JCC
The Osher Marin JCC is the community center of Marin County. Epitomizing the essence of Marin, with a range of authentic cultural experiences enjoyed by many generations, the Osher Marin JCC offers award-winning facilities, abundant physical and educational activities and world-class programming
relevant to our entire community today. Since the Osher Marin JCC’s founding in 1947, the center has become recognizable for its rich history of Jewish traditions and values with an unparalleled all-inclusive community spirit. For more information about the Osher Marin JCC, please visit http://www.marinjcc.org.
