Monica Bellucci Studied Callas, Netrebko, Sills for ‘Mozart in the Jungle’ Role With Placido Domingo

By OperaWire

Monica Bellucci and Ana Maria Martinez have created a role together in the newly released third season of Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle.”

Martinez recorded an aria for the show written by composer Nico Muhly based on a Long Island tragedy and that recording is now the dub for Bellucci’s performance. The Italian actress was cast in the series to play the role of diva Alessandra. She also performs alongside Placido Domingo, who plays himself in the series. Bellucci’s arc takes place across the first five episodes of the new season.

According to the New York Times, Bellucci studied videos of Maria Callas, Anna Netrebko and Beverly Sills in preparation for her scenes. “It was so interesting to see how they move onstage, and also how everything is so fragile — because they have an instrument inside themselves,” she revealed.

The show has become a sensational hit for Amazon. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, the popular series follows the story of a New York symphony orchestra as it attempts to remain relevant. The new season, released Friday, takes place around Europe, after the second season took a foray into Mexico.

The show was awarded Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical earlier this year; Bernal also won for an award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical.

The series also won a Primetime Emmy and an Imagen Foundation Award in 2016 and 2015.

 

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