Still, Maria is a marvel to look at, unfolding in a Paris lit by pale September sun. It is 1977, and La Callas is a recluse, long gone from Covent Garden but never quite ruling out a comeback. Pills are popped. The butler frets.

What is real and not real is my business,’ announces Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie), and really, who are we to argue? Maria (12A), a biopic of one of the greatest sopranos in the history of opera, opens in 1977 with ‘the Divine One’ living a semi-solitary life in the company of her devoted butler Ferrucio (Pierfranceso Favino) and housekeeper Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) as she rattles around her vast Parisian apartment.

Angelina Jolie steps into the shoes of opera legend Maria Callas in the new biopic Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín. The first trailer reveals Jolie’s emotional portrayal, showcasing her transformation into the famous soprano.