Callas To Film “Tosca”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 11

Callas To Film “Tosca”

Maria Callas will begin her first film in Rome this month, a re-enactment of one of her most famous roles, the name part of Puccini’s “Tosca.” Franco Zeffirelli, who has staged most of Callas’s recent opera triumphs, from Dallas to Paris, will produce the film, his second. “I have been trying to persuade Callas to do this for some time, but, as you know, she is a very cautious artist and does not like to take an unconsidered step,” said Zeffirelli, announcing the project. “It will be a marvellous film. The sound track has already been made. In fact it is her latest "Tosca’ recording, directed by Georges Pretre, which we made with the film possibilities in mind.” The baritone Tito Gobbi will repeat his role of Scarpia for the cameras. The tenor part, which will have the voice of Carlo Bergonzi, will be taken by a young actor not yet chosen. The film, as far as possible, will be made in the original Rome settings. But the use of the Farnese Palace depends on the French Ambassador as it is now the French Embassy. This will be Zeffirelli’s second cinema production. After working as assistant director to Luchino Visconti,, in 1957 he directed a minor rtatian comedy called “Camping.”