Maria Callas: La Divina - A Portrait

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Overview

This documentary follows the tumultuous life and career of opera singer Maria Callas. Using archival footage and interviews with Callas and critics, director Tony Palmer explains why this slender and beautiful singer was hailed by some as the greatest opera singer of the twentieth century while others called her a talentless fake. Callas rose to her status of diva by performing several lead soprano roles with a voice many called imperfect but full of emotion. It is this emotion that drew many to her and repulsed ...
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Overview

This documentary follows the tumultuous life and career of opera singer Maria Callas. Using archival footage and interviews with Callas and critics, director Tony Palmer explains why this slender and beautiful singer was hailed by some as the greatest opera singer of the twentieth century while others called her a talentless fake. Callas rose to her status of diva by performing several lead soprano roles with a voice many called imperfect but full of emotion. It is this emotion that drew many to her and repulsed others. This emotion also tended to create problems in her personal life, giving ammunition to her detractors. The video explains how this tension created an intersting arc to Calla's career, seeing her reach the pinnacle of the opera world and then fall fast from its graces. Clips of live performances, like Calla's role as Tosca in a Puccini opera and Violetta in La Traviata are also worked into the program. ~ Ed Atkinson
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Gregory Baird
Fans waited in line for days for a chance to hear the great opera diva Maria Callas, whose life and art are explored in director Tony Palmer's documentary Maria Callas: La Divina -- A Portrait. Archival footage and interviews with friends and colleagues tell the life story of this superstar, with much attention paid to the more tragic aspects of her life, including the affair with Aristotle Onassis that ultimately broke her heart. Onassis dumped her for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Callas is most revelatory in interviews, where she exposes many facets of her complex, oft-embattled personality. Of course, there's also the music -- and plenty of it -- giving fans and neophytes alike a chance to appreciate her legendary voice and remarkable stage presence. Callas died a recluse at the age of 53, and by the time Maria Callas: La Divina -- A Portrait reaches is tragic, real-life ending, there won't be a dry eye in the house.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/13/2008
  • UPC: 604388691203
  • Original Release: 1987
  • Source: Tony Palmer Films
  • Region Code: 0
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Language: English
  • Time: 1:32:00
  • Format: DVD

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Madame Biki Participant
Jacques Bourgeois Participant
Maria Callas
John Copley Participant
Carlo Maria Giulini Participant
Michel Glotz Participant
Tito Gobbi Participant
Lord Harewood Participant
Elvira Di Hidalgo Participant
Nicola Rossi Lemeni Participant
Arda Mandikian Participant
Polyvios Marchand Participant
Giovanni Battista Meneghini Participant
Aristotle Onassis Participant
Nicola Rescigno Participant
Graziella Sciutti Participant
Nadia Stancioff Participant
Arianna Stassinopoulos Participant
Giuseppe di Stefano Participant
John Tooley Participant
Luchino Visconti Participant
Franco Zeffirelli Participant
Technical Credits
Tony Palmer Director, Editor
John Ardoin Associate Producer
Rob Ayling Executive Producer
Alan Capper Associate Producer
Alan Dykes Sound Mixer
Jill Marshall Producer
Alan Sievewright Associate Producer
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Tony Palmer's Film About Callas
1. Ardoin & the Tragic Love Strory [1:01]
2. "Una Voce Poco Fa" The Barber of Seville [2:57]
3. Graziella Sciutti [1:02]
4. Manhattan [2:06]
5. Athens [8:13]
6. Verona, Serafin & Rossi-Lameni [1:44]
7. "Oh, S'io Potessi" Il Pirata [1:05]
8. Audrey Hepburn & Lord Harewood [2:13]
9. Callas as a Singing Actor [3:43]
10. La Scala & Visconti [4:20]
11. "Nacqui All'Affanno" La Cenerentola [1:45]
12. The Ugly Duckling & Meneghini [7:37]
13. Rome Opera & Cancellations [3:39]
14. A Greek Tragedy: "Tu Che La Vanità" Don Carlos [4:14]
15. 'Habanera' Carmen [2:36]
16. Carlo Maria Giulini [1:17]
17. Onassis & Divorse [6:14]
18. Tosca & Tito Gobbi [6:13]
19. Abortion & Attempted Suicide [1:53]
20. "Tacea La Notte Placida" Il Trovatore: Jackie Kennedy [4:33]
21. Waiting to Die: "Ah, Non Credea Mirarti" La Sonnambula [4:21]
22. Medea & Pasolini [2:06]
23. "I Never Thought I Was Any Good" [2:42]
24. "Every Day, Thank God, Is One Day Less" [4:32]
25. "Vissi D'Arte" Tosca [6:36]
26. "O Mio Babbino Caro" Gianni Shicchi [1:54]
27. End Credits [:29]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Tony Palmer's Film About Callas
   Play Feature
   Chapters
   Subtitles
      French
      Italian
      German
      Spanish
      Subtitles off
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