‘Maria’ Production Designer on Re-creating the Opera Singer’s Lavish World
Larraín and Dyas toured all of Callas’ preferred spots in Paris, such as her refurbished Avenue Georges Mandel apartment on George Mandel Avenue. Despite some initial resistance, the current owner granted access to the unit but forbade any photos, so Dyas sketched the apartment and later created a depiction (shown below) of what Callas’ apartment might appear in the movie, incorporating some artistic license to facilitate a smoother layout. “We didn’t have much opportunity to observe it as is, except perhaps the fireplace,” Dyas remarks. “It was unfortunate.