17/09/2002 - Paris hosted the world premiere of Franco Zeffirelli's Callas Forever before a VIP audience, on the 25th anniversary of the legendary soprano’s death

Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, together with the stars of his latest film Callas Forever, Fanny Ardant and Jeremy Irons was the guest of honour at yesterday evening’s (16 September) world premiere in Paris. The screening coincided with the 25th anniversary of Greek singing legend, Maria Callas’ sad and lonely death in 1977 in Paris. The gala event took place before a star studded audience that included former culture ministers, Jack Lang and Jacques Toubon, fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld, Pierre Cardin and Carla Fendi, singer-songwriter Riccardo Cocciante and the Italian ambassador in France, Giovanni Dominedò. The audience clearly enjoyed Zeffirelli’s fictionalised story of his dear friend’s last days and showed their approval with a long round of applause as the end credits rolled.
Maria Callas was played by an extraordinary Fanny Ardant. This is the French actress' second time as the Greek diva, having first played Callas in Terrence McNally’s Master Class directed by Roman Polanski. Callas Forever was co-produced by Italy’s Cattleya and Medusa Film and France’s Galfin, Babe and France 2 Cinéma and Bac Distribution will release the movie onto 75 French screens on 18 September.

(Translated from French)