France | Italy 2025
Opening December 18, 2025

Directed by: Anissa Bonnefont
Writing credits: Anissa Bonnefont
Principal actors: Documentary: Leo Muscato, Riccardo Chailly, Anna Netrebko, Brian Jagde

This documentary features the opera house La Scala in Milan, Italy, which is considered the “most famous opera house in the world.” We observe for ninety-two minutes as a team of 900 participants prepare, produce, and eventually perform the opera La forza del destino by Giuseppe Verdi. The German title is Die Macht des Schicksals; in English it’s The Force of Destiny or also The Power of Fate. It was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on October 29,1862. Here, our premiere is scheduled for December 7, 2024, to be presented in four acts.

We begin watching their work 80 days in advance, i.e., approximately from mid-September. Film director Anissa Bonnefont follows stage director Leo Muscato as he practices with American tenor Brian Jagde, Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, and French baritone Ludovic Téier. All progress rests on their talents and also, most importantly, on the talent of the members of the large choir. They present versions of love, hate, and death, revolving around the absurdity of war against Germany. Sylvia Aymonino is responsible for the costumes, including military uniforms. The 80 days turn to 75 days, then 70, 60, 50, 40, 35, 30, 20, 15, 14, 12, 11, 10 and, finally, there is the long-awaited premiere. This is not only a film for opera fans, but for everyone interested in music. Naturally, opera fans will appreciate the “behind the scenes stuff” as my colleague Andrea suggests. (Becky T.)