Angelina Jolie is afraid to disappoint opera and Maria Callas fans the industry
Angelina Jolie – who plays Maria Callas in a film shown on Thursday during the Venice Film Festival – has confirmed she fears “frustrating” fans of the famous opera and singer.
The 49-year-old American star said at a press conference dedicated to talking about the film “Maria”, which is competing to win the Golden Lion Award, “The criterion for knowing whether my performance is good enough is my opinion. I am a fan of opera and callas, and I fear that I am their will disappoint.”
The work focuses on the last phase of Callas’ life, which the famous singer spent in a miserable atmosphere in his Parisian apartment after the love of his life, the famous Greek shipbuilder Aristotle Onassis, left him to marry former American first lady Jackie Kennedy.
Callas was one of the most prominent stars of his time, as during his exceptional singing career he performed on the most prestigious international stages, from La Scala in Milan to the Paris Opera. Her tumultuous 9-year relationship with Onassis also attracted widespread media attention. He died at the age of 53.
“I was very attached to her, so I don’t want to spoil the image of this woman,” Jolie said, sitting next to Chilean film director Pablo Larran.
In preparation for this film, Jolie took singing lessons to be able to embody the character of Callas, a very daring bet that made her “very nervous”.
“I spent about 7 months training,” Jolie says, thanking Pablo Laren, who made her sing “from a small room to the La Scala theater” in Milan.
The film “Maria” deals with the last phase of singer Callas’ life (Social Networking Site).
“He gave me time to apply, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do the job,” she added.
He continued, “I liked punk music more than opera and different genres, but I listened to The Clash (a British rock band) more.”
When asked about the resemblance to the singer, Jolie – who is facing a tumultuous divorce from Brad Pitt that received a lot of media coverage – took a funny approach.
“There are a lot of things I won’t say, but you may know or think about them,” he said, prompting laughter from the audience.
He continued, “The common point between us is great kindness and the inability to openly express this kindness,” noting that the most important common denominator between them is “weakness.”
Venice Film Festival
The screening of “Maria” – which deals with the end of the life of the singer Callas – is one of the main stations of the 81st Venice Film Festival, because the film represents a risk for Jolie, who “embodies the character. The voice of the century.”
The work was directed by Chilean Pablo Larraín, who won the best screenplay award for “El Conde” at the last session of the Venice Film Festival.
Larraín (age 48), known for making biographical films, has several works under his belt, including “Neruda” (about Chilean writer Pablo Neruda), “Jackie” (about American first lady Jackie Kennedy), and “Spencer ” (about Princess Diana) which was shown during the Venice Film Festival in 2021 and starred Kristen Stewart.
When announcing the names of the films that will compete for the Golden Lion award last July, Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera praised Jolie’s “amazing performance” as the singer, who died of a heart attack in 1977. of 53.
Along with the American star, three prominent Italian actors participated in the work: Valeria Golino as his sister, Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher as the two servants who stayed by his side until his death.
Turbulent love affair
To embody the character of the singer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in December 2023, director Laren chose actress Jolie (49 years old), who made her big comeback on the screen with the series “Eternals” and “Maleficent” (the third part is being prepared). , which stars the lead as an evil fairy.
To prepare for this film, which forms a kind of mirror game between two stars from two different eras and two worlds, Jolie took singing lessons to be able to embody the character of the singer, a very bold bet.
The singer, born Maria Kalozeropoulou before Callas, followed a strict diet in 1954 and lost 30 kg.
Besides Greek, his mother tongue, he spoke excellent English, French and Italian.
Callas caused some controversy when on January 2, 1958, he stated on the Rome Opera stage in the presence of the Italian President that he had lost his voice and refused to continue singing at the end of the first part of the opera. ” Opera management condemned the singer’s behavior.
Seven years later (in 1965), she had great success performing the opera “Tosca” in Paris before a final world concert tour in 1973.