Kallen Esperian was just in her twenties when she performed some of the most famous roles in opera, appearing opposite Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras at world-renowned venues such as La Scala and the Met. Yet soon after her triumphs, her life began to unravel : divorce, depression, extreme weight fluctuations, physical injury and — most dramatic of all — brain surgery. Vissi d’arte (I lived for Art) is award-winning filmmaker Steve Ross’s documentary film of that dark period and of Ms. Esperian remmergence to « singing better than I ever have. It is not supposed to happen that way. »
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director and the artist and a mini-recital by Ms. Esperian.