The 1891 Fredonia Opera House will present Raphael Revealed, a special cinematic examination of the renowned artist, today, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. as part of its Art & Architecture On Screen Series.

Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis notes that “due to the continued high positivity rate of COVID in Chautauqua County, and in accordance with CDC and State guidelines, we are requiring all patrons to wear masks before, during and after Opera House events.”

Marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death, the greatest exhibition ever held of his works took place in Rome. Exhibition on Screen and award-winning director Phil Grabsky were granted exclusive access to this once-in-a-lifetime show. With more than 200 masterpieces, including paintings and drawings – more than a hundred of which were brought together for the first time – this major exhibition celebrates the life and work of Raphael Sanzio da Urbino.

With unprecedented loans from the Louvre, Uffizi, National Gallery of Art, the Prado Museum, and more, the exhibition and this film provide an unparalleled opportunity to see the breadth of Raphael’s skill, creativity and ingenuity.

Grabsky provides a fresh look at this giant of the Renaissance, and shows why he is considered one of the all-time greats. This cinematic experience covers the artist’s life in Rome with a unique look at the ancient Rome that was such a powerful influence, including rare footage of Nero’s Golden House that Raphael himself visited.

In his brief career, Raphael shaped the course of Western culture like few artists before or since. More than just a painter, Raphael was one of the most extraordinary artists of the renaissance, but is often misunderstood or mythologized. This extraordinary cinematic experience allows Raphael, for the first time, to be truly revealed.

The production runs approximately one hour, 28 minutes. Individual tickets to Raphael Revealed are $15, ($10 students). Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 12-4:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org.

For this production, the Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.