Ze relli’s Callas turns her hand to opera direction
One of the most feted French actresses of her era, Fanny Ardant (left) may already be familiar to many opera fans, as her 30-plus film roles include that of soprano Maria Callas in Zeffirelli’s Callas Forever in 2002. Now, Ardant has ventured into in the real-life opera house as the director of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District at Greek National Opera. In her own lavishly poetic director’s notes that accompany the production, which stars soprano Svetlana Sozdateleva in the title role (below), Ardant expresses her wish that ‘since the Greek shores welcomed me, may the Olympian Gods – if they deign to look at me – guide and protect me.’