An orchestra conductor's honest review of MARIA (Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, Netflix movie)

An honest look at Maria (Netflix, 2024) to give you some missing context of the life and impact of Maria Callas as opera singer; as well as some personal reflections on how classical music is depicted in these movies, specially when it comes to the topic of art as suffering; and of course a look at Angelina Jolie's singing scenes; is she really singing, and is it Oscar worthy?

00:00 My problem with movies about classical music
01:35 Was Maria Callas a diva?
07:09 Art as suffering, a problematic movie trope
10:39 Angelina Jolie singing as Maria Callas
14:38 Final thoughts

Some Maria Callas recordings:
-One of the few existing video recordings of an opera production - Tosca by Puccini    • Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi at Covent...  
An Aria from Suor Angelica by Puccini; about a mother grieving her lost son    • Maria Callas. Senza Mamma. Suor Angel...  
An Aria from La Traviata by Verdi; an ill woman who knows her time is up (think end of Moulin Rouge)    • MARIA CALLAS La Traviata, Addio del p...  

This video uses interviews with Mike Wallace and Barbara Walters, as well as small fragments from "Maria" for educational purposes.