WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Maria.
Netflix's 2024 biopic Maria features many classical orchestrations and selected opera pieces sung by Maria Callas and performed by Oscar winner Angelina Jolie. Jolie, best known for her roles in films such as Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raiderand Girl, interrupted, returns in his first feature film since the Marvel action blockbuster in 2021 Eternals. Jolie has also directed several films such as First they killed my parents (2017) and Uninterrupted (2014). Jolie took a break from acting in 2021 Eternals until 2024 Maria to focus on spending more time with their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Maria depicts the last days of the life of Maria Callas, who was once considered the greatest opera singer in the world. The film is set in 1970s Paris as Maria's health deteriorates. Jolie leads Maria cast as the titular protagonist who sees the world through hallucinogenic, faded lenses with her loyal butler, Ferruccio, and her supportive maid, Bruna. Maria is directed by Chilean director Pablo Larraín from Spencer (2021) and Jackie (2016) acclaim. The original script was written by Steven Knight, best known for creating the Cillian Murphy-led Netflix series. Peaky Blinders. Maria was released in select cinemas after premiering at the 81st Venice Film Festival in August 2024.
|
Every song in Maria |
Appears in |
|---|---|
|
“Ave Maria” by Verdi Othello played by Maria Callas |
02:15 |
|
“Casta diva” performed by Maria Callas |
10:00 |
|
“Vedi! Le Fosche Night Spoglie” by Verdi The Troubadour conducted by Peter Illenyi and performed by the Anvil Chorus |
19:30 |
|
“My Dear Baboon” by Puccini Gianni Schicchi played by Maria Callas |
9:30 p.m. |
|
“Ave Maria (piano version) [feat. Károly Zentai]”conducted by Peter Illenyi |
30:00 |
|
“Intermezzo” by Verdi La Traviata conducted by Peter Illenyi |
35:15 |
|
“Moonlight Walk” by Ib Glindemann |
40:00 |
|
“Ebben? Ne andrò lontana” by Catalani performed by Maria Callas |
42:30 |
|
“Introduction” of Cherubini’s Medea” directed by Peter Illenyi |
45:30 |
|
“And you? Io son Medea” by Cherubini performed by Maria Callas |
45:50 |
|
“Why do I smell cocaine (feat. Erofili Panagiotarea and Lydia Koniordou) performed by Angelina Papadopoulou |
48:10 |
|
“Habanera” by Bizet Carmen played by Angelina Papadopoulou |
50:10 |
|
“Coro a bocca chiusa (Humming Chorus)” by Puccini Madame Butterfly conducted by Peter Illenyi |
56:00 |
|
“Qui la voce sua soave” from I Puritani by Bellini performed by Maria Callas |
59:45 |
|
“Prelude” by Wagner Parsifal conducted by Peter Illenyi |
1:03:45 |
|
“Semper libera” performed by Maria Callas |
1:09:00 |
|
“Ave Maria (piano version) [feat. Károly Zentai]”conducted by Peter Illenyi |
1:11:30 |
|
“Habanera (Jazz Version)” performed by Nikolaos Georgedakis feat. Dimitris Kyriakopoulos, John Voulgaris and Spyridon Aineias Nikas |
1:14:30 |
|
“Happy Birthday, Mr. President” by Marilyn Monroe |
1:16:35 |
|
“Addio, del passato” by Verdi The traviata led by Károly Zentai |
1:17:30 |
|
“Ave Maria (fully orchestrated version)” directed by Peter Illenyi |
1:23:00 |
|
“Piangete voi?” Donizetti's Anna Bolena performed by Maria Callas |
1:31:00 |
|
“E lucevan le stelle” by Puccini Tosca conducted by Peter Illenyi |
1:37:10 |
|
“Vissi d'arte” by Puccini Tosca played by Maria Callas |
1:47:00 |
|
“An Ending (Ascension)” by Brian Eno |
1:54:00 |
|
“Va, pensiero sull'ali dorate” by Verdi Nabuco conducted by Peter Illenyi |
1:57:00 |
When all the songs from Maria's soundtrack play in the film
“Ave Maria” by Verdi Othello played by Maria Callas – 2h15: This song plays right at the beginning of the film during the first scene, which is also the last. Characters hover over Maria's body as the music plays a sequence from Maria Callas' life, showing her singing in various places.
“Casta diva” performed by Maria Callas – 10:00: Maria sings this song to her maid, Bruna, in the kitchen of her house. The song also features a flashback to Maria singing live to a packed audience. Bruna tells Maria that it was wonderful to support her blindly while she prepares an omelette for her.
“Vedi! Le Fosche Night Spoglie” by Verdi The Troubadour conducted by Peter Illenyi and performed by the Anvil Chorus – 7:30 p.m.: This song plays while Maria and Mandrax walk together through Paris. Maria answers some of Mandrax's reflective questions about his life. A choir of men walks up to Mary and sings to her.
“My Dear Baboon” by Puccini Gianni Schicchi performed by Maria Callas – 9:30 pm: Inspired by Bruna's encouragement, Maria visits her pianist friend Jeffrey Tate to rehearse. She sings this song in an empty auditorium until her voice breaks.
“Ave Maria (piano version) [feat. Károly Zentai]”conducted by Peter Illenyi – 30:00: This song plays while Ferruccio confronts Maria about her health. A doctor arrives to see Maria, who takes blood for tests. Ferruccio and Bruna discuss Maria's bad eating habits and drug use.
“Intermezzo” by Verdi La Traviata led by Peter Illenyi – 35:15: This song plays when Aristotle Onassis is introduced in the film. Maria hallucinates seeing him before a flashback to the day they met at a party he threw for her.
“Moonlight Promenade” by Ib Glindemann – 40:00: This song plays at the end of the flashback scene when Maria meets Onassis and invites her to his super yacht.
“Ebben? Ne andrò lontana” by Catalani performed by Maria Callas – 42h30: A vinyl recording of this song plays during the scene where Maria is in the cafe with a bartender, who is a big fan. Maria asks him to turn off the record, but he insists on playing it, saying that's what he listens to when he's alone.
“Introduction” of Cherubini’s Medea” conducted by Peter Illenyi – 45:30: This song plays as Ferruccio takes Maria home from the café after she's been walking around Paris pretending like she was being interviewed by Mandrax all day.
“And you? Io son Medea” by Cherubini performed by Maria Callas – 45:50: Maria listens to a recording of her singing this song on vinyl at home. She seems vague and distant as she remembers doing this on stage.
“Why Do I Snort Cocaine (feat. Erofili Panagiotarea & Lydia Koniordou) performed by Angelina Papadopoulou – 48:10: In a flashback scene, Maria's mother encourages Maria and her sister Yakinthi to sing this song to two German SS soldiers.
“Habanera” by Bizet Carmen played by Angelina Papadopoulou – 50:10: A younger Maria sings this classic song to one of the SS officers in a private room. Her voice is so beautiful it makes him cry.
“Coro a bocca chiusa (Humming Chorus)” by Puccini Madame Butterfly conducted by Peter Illenyi – 56:00: This song is played by an orchestra on a rainy day in Paris as Maria is scolded by Mandrax, who orders her to sing.
“Qui la voce sua soave” from I Puritani by Bellini performed by Maria Callas – 59:45: Maria returns to rehearse with Jeffrey in the empty auditorium. A flashback of her singing this song appears as she tries to sing the song in the current timeline.
“Prelude” by Wagner Parsifal led by Peter Illenyi – 1:03:45: This song plays in a flashback sequence of Maria on Onassis's super yacht, the Christina. Maria's husband is also there and tells how obvious Onassis' desire for her is.
“Semper libera” performed by Maria Callas – 1:09:00: Maria plays this album of this song at her house, which bothers the neighbors. They tell Ferruccio to ask Maria to stop playing music so loud. Maria has apparently been playing non-stop for hours.
“Ave Maria (piano version) [feat. Károly Zentai]”conducted by Peter Illenyi – 1:11:30: This song plays again over images of Maria dancing with Mandrax and Onassis, demonstrating her delirious and melancholic state of mind.
“Habanera (Jazz Version)” performed by Nikolaos Georgedakis feat. Dimitris Kyriakopoulos, John Voulgaris and Spyridon Aineias Nikas – 1:14:30: A jazz version of this classic song plays as Maria enters a hotel claiming that she is expected. A flashback to Maria and Onassis seeing plays by John F. Kennedy.
“Happy Birthday, Mr. President” by Marilyn Monroe – 1:16:35: This song plays while Marilyn Monroe performs it live on stage. Onassis tells Maria that Monroe doesn't need to be a good singer because she has a beautiful body.
“Addio, del passato” by Verdi The traviata led by Károly Zentai – 1:17:30: This song plays just before Maria has a private meeting with John F. Kennedy, who presumably requested it. The meeting doesn't last long, but JFK invites Maria to sing at the White House and says that he and his wife Jackie have been invited to board Onassis's yacht.
“Ave Maria (fully orchestrated version)” directed by Peter Illenyi – 1:23:00: This song plays while a doctor tells Maria that her heart and liver are failing. He delivers the devastating news that continuing to sing opera would be a death sentence for her.
“Piangete voi?” by Anna Bolena by Donizetti performed by Maria Callas – 1:31:00: Maria tries to sing this song on stage with Jeffrey. A flashback to her performance is intertwined with her struggle to sing in the current timeline. A rude reporter is secretly in the auditorium and later confronts Maria outside the theater.
“E lucevan le stelle” by Puccini Tosca led by Peter Illenyi – 1:37:10: This song plays during Maria's final scene outside with Mandrax, who says he's in love with her. The music continues at the beginning of the scene of Mary with Onassis on his deathbed.
“Vissi d'arte” by Puccini Tosca played by Maria Callas – 1:47:00: Maria sings this “swan song” in her apartment moments before her death in the film. The title translates to “I lived for art” and the lyrics revolve around being abandoned by God.
“A Finale (Ascension)” by Brian Eno – 1:54:00: This song plays in the final scene of the film, as Bruna and Ferruccio walk away from Maria's body together, distressed and wondering what to do next.
“Va, pensiero sull'ali dorate” by Verdi Nabuco led by Peter Illenyi – 1:57:00: This song plays over the end credits of Maria.
Where to listen to Maria's soundtrack
The official Netflix soundtrack Maria is available to stream on all major platforms such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and Spotify. Only a few songs, such as “Moonlight Promenade” by Ib Glindemann, “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” by Marilyn Monro, and “An Ending (Ascent)” by Brian Eno are in the film, but are not included on the soundtrack. The soundtrack features all of Maria Callas' famous recordings that are heard throughout Maria with orchestral music conducted by Peter Illenyi.