Callas in colour on the big screen

Jonathan Whiting
Friday, September 22, 2023

Maria Callas’s legendary 1958 Paris concert, remastered and colourised for the first time, marks the diva’s centenary.

Few can deny the impact Maria Callas made on not only the operatic world of the 20th century but on popular culture itself, redefining terms such as ‘diva’ and ‘prima donna’. To this day, her iconic rich tessitura enchants listeners just as vividly as it did audiences of her day.

Her concert at the Paris Garnier in 1958 represented Callas at her peak – the event was attended by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Brigitte Bardot, and Jean Cocteau. This landmark event was also televised which, for the time, was a rarity. It contained music from some of Callas’s greatest roles, including Norma with ‘Casta Diva’, and Tosca, where the entire second half of the concert was a fully staged performance of Act 2 of the Puccini opera.

From the same producer and director of the 2017 documentary Maria by Callas, CALLAS - PARIS, 1958 presents the recently rediscovered concert footage remastered into 4K Ultra HD resolution and Dolby Atmos surround sound. Additionally, the entire concert has been colourised for the first time – Callas was as well known for her commanding stage presence as her voice, so the visual element is arguably just as vital. CALLAS - PARIS, 1958 will be in cinemas exclusively in November and December 2023; visit MariaCallas.Film to book your tickets now.

You can hear the iconic recording of Callas as Tosca here via Apple Music.

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