(75 min; 1987; German/English and with English subtitles)
Directors: Alan Lewens, Alastair Mitchell

A DW Classical Music documentary

Maria Callas, nicknamed 'La Divina', was arguably the most famous soprano of the 20th century. The music documentary Maria Callas: Life and Art looks at the great singer as a person, pays tribute to her vocal artistry and her talent for distinctive portrayal of dramatic roles. 

The biographical film, produced and directed by Alan Lewens and Alastair Mitchell, was released in 1987 – ten years after Callas’ death. In extensive interviews, friends and companions describe how they saw her, and the diva herself even has her say in archive footage. And in between there are rare original excerpts from her breath taking singing performances. In this way, the film creates a portrait of the legendary singer, who was torn between private and artistic ambitions. Maria Callas (1923 - 1977) was frenetically acclaimed and even revered as a goddess by many, while others criticized her harshly for her less-than-perfect singing. This documentary pays tribute to the life and art of the soprano beyond clichés and judgements.