Maria Callas – mistress of tragedy and herself a tragic figure of the opera world. 40 years ago one of the greatest voices of the 20th century fell silent. Director Tom Volf has made an intimate portrait of the singular diva in MARIA BY CALLAS. The title should be taken literally. “The Callas“ - a product of the media which was focused on the artist since she was 18 – reflected in the eyes of shy Maria who was born in Greece in 1923, a simple girl who was pushed by an overly ambitious mother and then by her first husband Giovanni Battista Meneghani, a rich businessman whom she married at 1949. There‘s no running away from fate, says Maria Callas in an interview she gave to British TV towards the end of her career which makes up the core of the documentary. She was prepared for the hype around her, enjoyed the fame, and endured the criticism with an open, sincere smile that accompanies us throughout the film and the end credits. The sparkle in her eye when she sang accompanies the film as well. Volf shows many of her performances – perhaps too many for those who aren‘t big fans of opera. But even they can recognise that Maria Callas was an extraordinarily talented artist which was concealing vulnerability which surfaces in her personal letters (read by Fanny Ardant in the French original version). These recordings and the countless video documents support Volf in his film and he does without third parties who talk to the camera praising “The Callas“. The outside perspective is missing in MARIA BY CALLAS because of it, but we do get painfully close to her.

Lars Tunçay

Translation: Elinor Lewy