Callas: Paris, 1958 — Maria Callas Historic Paris Opera Performance

The film

A night to remember

Maria Callas, the defining opera diva of the 20th century, made her Paris debut with this legendary one-night performance at the Paris Opéra on 19 December 1958.

The evening became a major Parisian cultural event. Callas opened with Norma's “Casta diva”, continued with music from Verdi's Il Trovatore and Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and culminated in a fully staged Act II of Tosca opposite Tito Gobbi as Scarpia.

The surviving performance was meticulously restored from original 16mm material and a newly discovered sound source, bringing the recital to cinema audiences in colour, 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos.