On February 4, 2025, the film 'Maria', about the life of legendary soprano Maria Callas, will have its avant-première at Cinema Cartoons in Antwerpen. A day later, it will be shown in numerous cinemas across the country. Through Klassiek Centraal you can watch the film for free. See more below this article...
The film, directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie in the leading role, focuses on Callas' final days in Parijs in 1977. The story highlights her struggle with her identity and the loss of her iconic voice, twelve years after her last opera performance.
An intimate portrait
Maria focuses on the emotional and artistic complexity of Callas' life. Angelina Jolie, who plays the role of the soprano, emphasizes in a statement: "Music was her life. Her relationship with her voice and body, her communication with the audience – it was the key to who she was". The film combines dramatic scenes with fragments from Callas' opera performances, including arias such as 'Casta diva' (Norma) and 'Vissi d'arte' (Tosca). On November 29, 2024, Warner Classics released the original soundtrack of the film, featuring authentic recordings by Callas. These were technically edited by Oscar winner John Warhurst (*Bohemian Rhapsody*), who isolated and restored Callas' voice: "We removed artifacts to put her original performance at the center." The Budapest Scoring Orchestra reproduced the orchestral arrangements under the direction of Csaba Faltay, presenting Callas' voice in a modern, immersive mix.
The Maria soundtrack has been available since November 29, 2024 via https://w.lnk.to/maria. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the story of one of the world's most influential opera icons from February 5 in cinemas.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqQexePnZvs[/embed]