Nickel City Opera West presents Opera Classics Featuring Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’

NickelCityOperaWest on March 26, 2023

At the Richards Center for the Arts on Sunday, March 26th, Giacomo Puccini’s (Italian 1858-1924) La Boheme will be featured in the Nickel City Opera West inaugural presentation of Opera Classics showcasing the leading exponent of the verismo, or realism style. Originating from the Post Romantic Italian literary movement circa 1875-early 1900s, verismo portrays the world in greater realism using subject matters not previously thought of as being fit for literature but now written about, including the lives of the poor. Also known as naturalism, the genre does away with epic quests and mythological beasts, centering instead on ‘human’ drama, illness, lost loves and marital problems as seen in Puccini’s three greatest successes, La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Featuring Metropolitan Opera Singer and NCO West Artistic Director Valerian Ruminski, international opera tenor Eric Fennell, Mexican soprano Carla Portillo and Los Angeles based soprano Shirley Wang. Conducted by Olivia Tsui.

Nickel City Opera West Gala Dinner

NickelCityOperaWest on March 14, 2023

Nickel City Opera West will host a sneak peek of the events planned for the Coachella Valley at the Inaugural Gala Dinner March 14th with a 4 course menu by Chef Ernie of Mario’s Italian Cafe. Opera arias will be presented throughout the evening from Metropolitan Opera singer and Artistic Director Valerian Ruminski and his opera colleagues. Nickel City Opera West was formed to bring opera to Palm Springs and communities who do not have a permanent opera company. Based in Buffalo, NY, Nickel City Opera has been bringing fully staged operas, concerts and events to the community as a Summer Festival since 2009. As a winter snowbird satellite, NCO West hopes to bring opera fans to Palm Springs.

Since 1972, Mario’s Italian Cafe have established their presence within the local community as an active fundraiser for the Athletic Sponsor of Coachella Valley High Schools, The American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Desert Arc, Relay for Life, Italian Festival and Make A Wish donating 100% of over 8,000 meals provided annually to help these groups raise money for their causes. NCO West is honored to partner with Chef Ernie for a spectacular evening. Join us.

March Revelry – an art exhibit

Rob Lavery on March 1, 2023

March Revelry is an art exhibition beginning March 1, 2023 at the Stephen Baumbach Gallery in Palm Springs and runs through the end of the month. The opening coincides with the First Wednesday Art Walk in the Backstreet Art District where galleries are open until 8pm. This exhibition features abstract expressionism artist Roberto Amaral (@fuego_amaral on Instagram) and other artists. You can meet the artists at a meet and greet on Saturday March 11, from 11am-2pm.

Romance of The Holidays – The Music of Joe Giarrusso

Norma Greer on December 20, 2022

Romance takes center stage when PSIPC presents “Romance of the Holidays”. This 90-minute concert celebrates the work of Joe Giarrusso and includes seven talented musicians. Pianists, cellists, a violinist and a French horn will present all genres of music culminating with a holiday theme finale. Following the concert, enjoy a Holiday Sweets & Cocktail Reception where you’ll meet the evening’s performers. Tickets are $75 and available by visiting cvrep.org or calling PSIPC at (760) 773-2575.

“LOVE, CHARLIE” + “BEST CHEF IN THE WORLD” – Palm Springs Premieres Screenings

desertfs on December 3, 2022

In the 2000s, chef Charlie Trotter was the toast of Chicago, his eponymous restaurant one of the world’s top fine-dining destinations.  A gastronomic revolutionary and a culinary bad-boy, Trotter paved the way for the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay, yet his tempestuous, competitive nature alienated many.  With never-before-seen archival material and new interviews with those who loved and loathed Trotter–who died from a stroke in 2013 at age 54–this absorbing, unvarnished profile chronicles the passions of a master chef and the consequences of pursuing perfection at all costs. Told through intimate sit-down interviews with family, friends and celebrated chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and Grant Achatz, along with extensive personal archival material.

Genre:  Documentary
Run Time;  96 min
Country:  U.S.
Language:  English
Premiere:  Palm Springs
Producer | Director | Writer:  Rebecca Halpern
Distributor:  Greenwich Entertainment

“Fascinating! One of the best documentaries of the year.” … Chicago Sun-Times“

A complicated chef with an enduring legacy.” …Time Out

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS:
— CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – BEST OF FEST – 2021
— SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – 2022
— FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL – 2022

SHOWING WITH:  THE BEST CHEF IN THE WORLD (20 min) – History of FRENCH LAUNDRY in Yountville, CA.

Tickets:  Free to 2022 DFS members.  Non-members $15 cash at the door.  Complimentary coffee & pastries.

Covid Restrictions:  Photo ID, Proof of full vaccination including booster shot,  Seating is socially distanced.  Please allow 2 empty seats between you and another party and do not sit directly behind anyone.

SILHOUETTE SECRETS – One-time Screening – Filmmaker Guests

desertfs on November 19, 2022

Silhouette Secrets is a documentary in which a modern-day silhouette artist takes a journey back in time to explore the history of his shadowy art, asking the question “Where did it come from?”. On the way he meets the world’s fastest silhouette artist, who challenges him to a duel of scissors! The journey takes him from a windswept seaside pier – on the north coast of Wales – to an Audi showroom in Houston, Texas, and finishes with an intriguing answer to his question.

Q & A with Filmmakers Andi Reiss and Silhouette Master Charles Burns.

Meet & Greet Reception follows the screening where Charles will create some silhouettes.   Details to purchase reception tkts  on our website:  www.DesertFilmSociety.org

Genre:  Documentary
Run Time: 66 min
Country: U.K. & U.S.
Language: English
Premiere: West Coast
Director: Andi Reiss
Writer: Charles Burns (story)
Producer: Charles Burns
Composer: Jonathan Fletcher
Cinematographer: Mark Dempsey
Editors: Andi Reiss | Oliver Richards

 

Tickets:  Free to 2022 DFS members to screen the film.  Non-members $15 cash at the door.  Complimentary coffee & pastries.

Covid Restrictions:  Photo ID, Proof of full vaccination including booster shot,  Seating is socially distanced.  Please allow 2 empty seats between you and another party and do not sit directly behind anyone.

FATHER / OTAC (Serbia) – One-time Screening – Palm Springs Premiere – Desert Film Society

desertfs on November 5, 2022

A small town in Serbia. Nikola, day laborer and father of two, is ordered to give up his children to social services after poverty and hunger drive his wife to commit a desperate act. Until he can provide adequate conditions for their upbringing, the children will be placed in foster care. Despite Nikola’s best efforts and several appeals, the head of the social services centre refuses to return his children and his situation seems hopeless. But when Nikola discovers the local administration may be corrupt, he decides to travel  across Serbia on foot and take his case directly to the national ministry in Belgrade. Against all odds and driven by love and despair, this father refuses to give up on justice and his right to raise his children

Genre:  Drama
Run time:  120 min
Country:  Serbia
Language: Serbian
Premiere:  Palm Springs
Director:  Srdan Golubovic
Principal Cast:  Goran Bogdan, Boris Isaković, Nada Šargin, Milica Janevski, Muharem Hamzić, Ajla Šantić, Vahid Džanković, Milan Marić, Jovo Maksić, Nikola Rakočević
Website:  www.dekanalog.com
Distributor:  Dekanalog

Tickets:  Free to 2022 DFS members.  Non-members $15 cash at the door.  Complimentary coffee & pastries.

Covid Restrictions:  Photo ID, Proof of full vaccination including booster shot,  Seating is socially distanced.  Please allow 2 empty seats between you and another party and do not sit directly behind anyone.

SKIES OF LEBANON (France) – One-time screening – Palm Springs Premiere – Desert Film Society

desertfs on October 22, 2022

Starring the beloved Alba Rohrwacher and Wajdi Mouawad, the film combines live action with animation to create a vivid picture of Lebanon and is inspired by the family history of filmmaker Mazlo based on her grandmother’s stories of life during the Lebanese Civil War, Mazlo crafts a touching and heart-breaking story of love during wartime.

Genre:  Romance / Drama / War
Run time:  92 min
Country:  France
Languages:  French, Arabic, Italian with English subtitles
Premiere:  Palm Springs
Principal Cast:  Alba Rohrwacher, Wajdi Mouawad, Isabelle Zighondi
Website: www.dekanalog.com
Distributor: Dekanalog

Tickets:  Free to 2022 DFS members.  Non-members $15 cash at the door.  Complimentary coffee & pastries.

Covid Restrictions:  Photo ID, Proof of full vaccination including booster shot,  Seating is socially distanced.  Please allow 2 empty seats between you and another party and do not sit directly behind anyone.