ROME, 04 FEB – Destiny had in the name Franco Zeffirelli who would have celebrated one hundred years on February 12. Born the illegitimate son of the cloth merchant Ottorino Corsi (related to the heirs of Leonardo Da Vinci) and of the Florentine Alaide Garosi Cipriani, little Gian Franco was registered in the registry office with a fantasy name, according to the laws of the time (1923 , first year of the Fascist era): the mother, the artist narrated, was inspired by the “zeffiretti”, the sprites of Mozart’s Idomeneo and those twenty rogues were a sort of sign of destiny that, proudly, Zeffirelli would not have more left even when his father wanted to recognize him, at 19 years old. Raised in boarding school with authoritative tutors such as Giorgio La Pira, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, he immediately put himself on display as a refined set and costume designer, so much so that he attracted the attention of Luchino Visconti who wanted him with him for a mass Shakespeare scene. Thus was born an artistic and human partnership that would mark the whole life of the young Tuscan, who from the early 1950s proved to be an authority in the world of theater and opera, thanks to the numerous signed productions, from set designer, costume designer, director . Long opposed at home for political (anti-fascist but fiercely anti-communist) and religious (intransigent Catholic despite a never concealed homosexuality) convictions, Zeffirelli has never had an easy life at home, unlike his acclaimed successes in the world. It is therefore difficult to re-read his artistic parable today without taking into account the prejudices – but also the objective criticisms – which have often accompanied his work, especially in the cinema. Blood tempered, ardent fan of “his” Fiorentina, parliamentarian and personal friend of Silvio Berlusconi, Zeffirelli remains an exemplary scion of the best of Tuscany. The museum that today in Florence contains the treasures of his collection and his artistic parable remains a rare example of “Renaissance” culture. Of him it could be said that “few have loved Italy and its culture like him, even fewer have been able to be exalted and reviled as much as he”. (HANDLE).
(ANSA)
