CALLAS - PARIS, 1958

Maria Callas, the quintessential diva and the face of the opera in the 20^th century, made her Paris debut with a legendary performance at the sumptuous Paris Opera on December 19^th, 1958, for one night only.

It was a major social event, attended by the “Tout-Paris” - including French president Coty, poet Jean Cocteau, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Charlie Chaplin, Brigitte Bardot and many more. Callas appeared on the stage wearing her most elegant couture and a million dollars’ worth of jewelry. The repertoire in this performance - from her signature role, the “Casta Diva” from Bellini's Norma, to Puccini’s Tosca, via Rossini and Verdi - shows Callas at her best, both in recital and as an operatic actress.

The first event to be broadcast live in its entirety on Eurovision, this unique recital was seen by over 30 million people that evening. Thanks to meticulously restored, and fully colorized archives, this film is an opportunity to relive - 150 years after the inauguration of the Paris Opera - this unforgettable, hauntingly beautiful night, as if we were there.