Produced by Christine La Monte p.g.a. and Yvonne Russo p.g.a

VIVA VERDI! is an intimate glimpse into the lives of the celebrated opera singers and musicians currently living out their ‘third act’ while mentoring international music students who live among them at Milan’s unique retirement home, Casa Verdi, built by the composer Guiseppe Verdi in 1896.  

Directed, written and produced by Yvonne Russo, along with her producing partner, Christine La Monte who also wrote/produced/ executive produced the film. Nick Pike served as Music Composer; Federico Rodelli as Co-Producer; Federico Conforti and Darianna Cardilli as editors; Jacek Laskus as Cinematographer, and EPs on the film include James Tumminia, Simone Pero, Jamie Wolf, Regina Scully, Allan Rich, Sharron Burgess, David and Linda Cornfield, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Marni Grossman, Matt Zarley, Tiffany and Joe Soares and Zain Sheikh. 

From these ‘Guests of Verdi,’ aged 77 to 107, comprised of international opera singers, ballet dancers, musicians, conductors and composers, we hear an extraordinary array of personal and professional stories filled with music, magic and passion, and ultimately learn why Verdi called this remarkable home his “best work.”  

Verdi,  the most influential Italian Opera composer of the 19th century (La Traviata, Aïda, Falstaff, Rigoletto) willed his vast fortune to build Casa Verdi. Entering it is like walking into a living masterpiece. The air is thick with sounds of music so thick, it’s almost as if you can see it floating in and out of the dozens of rooms, as your heart warms as the music envelopes you, because there is quite frankly, no other place like it in the world.

A Q&A with the filmmakers follows the film.