{"id":644581,"date":"2019-06-15T12:54:29","date_gmt":"2019-06-15T12:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"
\"Zeffirelli<\/p>\n
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\"Zeffirelli<\/div>\n

Revered Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, famed for productions including his film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has died.<\/p>\n

Zeferelli\u2019s son Luciano said his 96-year-old father passed away at his home in Rome, adding he \u201chad suffered for a while, but he left in a peaceful way\u201d.<\/p>\n

The director won fans worldwide with his romantic vision and extravagant productions, with his style most famously captured in his cinematic rendering of Shakespeare\u2019s tragedy.<\/p>\n

His 1968 version was a hit with critics and performed well at the box office.<\/p>\n

Zeffirelli was also known for the lavish TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth, but his name was inextricably linked to the theatre and opera.<\/p>\n

He produced classics for the world\u2019s most famous opera houses and plays for London and Italian stages.<\/p>\n

Zeffirelli made it his goal to make culture accessible to the masses, often looking for inspiration in Shakespeare and other literary giants for his films, as well as producing operas aimed at television audiences.<\/p>\n

He once likened himself to a sultan with a harem of three: film, theatre and opera.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not a film director. I am a director who uses different instruments to express his dreams and his stories \u2013 to make people dream,\u201d Zeffirelli told the Associated Press in a 2006 interview.<\/p>\n

Zeffirelli was one of Italy\u2019s most prolific directors, working with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and his beloved Maria Callas, he also worked with some of Hollywood\u2019s biggest stars.<\/p>\n

He directed Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1967 adaptation of The Taming Of The Shrew, returning to Shakespeare in 1990 with Hamlet. Mel Gibson played the title role.<\/p>\n

One of Zeffirelli\u2019s last films, 1999\u2019s Tea With Mussolini, saw him work with Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Cher.<\/p>\n

He was one of the few Italian directors who was close the Vatican.<\/p>\n

The church turned to Zeffirelli for help with the 1978 papal installation and the 1983 Holy Year opening ceremonies in St Peter\u2019s Basilica.<\/p>\n

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi also called on him to direct a number of high-profile events.<\/p>\n

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