Tod der Maria Malibran, Der

Alternative title: Death of Maria Malibran
Synopsis: Experimental, non-narrative made-for-television film based on the true story of the death on stage of the 19th-century mezzo-soprano diva Maria Malibran. Most of the film is framed in tableaux with women lip-synching opera arias or American popular songs. In one scene, on the soundtrack, a man’s voice is heard reciting lines from Shakespeare (in English) on the theme of war and battles. A woman’s voice then reads some lines from a speech by Ophelia, followed by a scene of an actress dressed as Ophelia (wearing a loose robe and flowers) lip-synching the song ‘Ramona’.
Language: German (Standard)
Country: Germany
Medium: Film; Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 1971
Transmission details: 7 Mar 1972 (Channel: ZDF)
Duration: 104 mins