Paris 1958″: a new documentary on the singer’s legendary recital in Paris

For the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great singer Maria Callas, a documentary “Callas – Paris 1958” on the legendary recital she gave at the Opéra-Garnier is broadcast in several Pathé cinemas on Sunday evening.

Maria Callas passed away in 1977, but her aura lingered on the opera world long after her death. So, to mark the centenary of his birth, a grand gala was dedicated to him on Saturday December 2 at the Opéra-Garnier in Paris, and on Sunday December 3, a documentary will be screened in certain Pathé cinemas in France Callas – Paris 1958 on the legendary recital given by Callas, at the Opéra-Garnier.

Even before it took place, this concert of December 19, 1958 was announced as a most prestigious event by journalists: “The Greatest Show on Earth” or “important date in the history of Paris”, headlined the newspapers. The year 1958 had started badly for Maria Callas, whose poor performance for Norma in Rome, due to bronchitis and stress, caused her to be ridiculed and almost chased out of Italy by the press.

A few months later, Paris gave him a much better welcome: “She stopped over in Paris a few days after this incident in Rome, she stopped over for less than 24 hours, she is leaving for Chicago where her concert tour begins”says Tom Volf, artist, Callas specialist, and director of the documentary Callas – Paris 1958. “She is welcomed by the public and the French press in a way unexpected for her, rather respectful and warm, so she promises to return to Paris and offer what the press will headline a few days before ‘The greatest show in the world ‘.”

Talents as a singer and actress

Maria Callas’ performance, given as part of a charity gala for the works of the Legion of Honor, takes place in a unique form. A first bel canto recital sequence, followed by a staging of part of the opera Tosca by Puccini, all in front of President René Coty, Charlie Chaplin and Brigitte Bardot, but also the 30 million people around the world who follow this live on television. “The singing talents that she shows in the first part are astonishing, a singer but also an actress, particularly in the second act of Tosca, we really see the theater tragedian”explains Tom Volf.

“Callas is at the top of her game during this evening. She gives a performance that shows that she is the greatest at this moment!”

Tom Volf, director of the documentary “Callas – Paris 1958”

at franceinfo

Callas – Paris 1958, a documentary by Tom Volf with this concert restored in unprecedented image and sound conditions, is screened on Sunday December 3 in several Pathé cinemas in France.