At the 81st Venice Film Festival, amidst the premieres and cinematic glamour, Victoria Buleeva, known professionally as VICTORI, made a bold statement—not just in her support of the much-anticipated film Maria, but in her vision for the future of opera. Recently honored with the prestigious Maria Callas Prize, Victoria is not merely promoting classical music; she’s on a mission to revolutionize it.
The film Maria, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by the innovative Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, offers a cinematic homage to the legendary opera diva Maria Callas. While the film received widespread acclaim, culminating in a ten-minute standing ovation, Victoria’s presence at the festival underscored a deeper narrative: the modernization of opera through the film industry.
Victoria, who just a year ago captivated audiences at the Monte Carlo Opera House, has established herself as a rising star in the global music scene. However, her ambitions extend beyond traditional opera. “I’m not just promoting classical music,” Victoria emphasized. “I’m focused on modernizing opera, using film as a platform to create unique presentations, innovative show arrangements, and a true ‘wow’ effect for the audience.”
Her endorsement of Maria aligns with this vision. Rather than simply preserving the legacy of opera, Victoria sees the film as a stepping stone towards making the art form more accessible and engaging for contemporary audiences. Reflecting on the festival, she remarked, “It’s a tremendous honor to be among such legendary figures, and to see classical music gaining renewed attention through cinema. The premiere moved me to tears, and meeting Angelina Jolie was an incredible highlight. Now, I have a new goal: to one day have my voice featured in a major Hollywood production, where we can truly innovate and captivate.”
Victoria’s approach represents a shift in the opera world—a move away from the conventional towards a fusion of classic and contemporary. Her participation at the Venice Film Festival signals her commitment to transforming opera into an art form that resonates with today’s audiences, leveraging the power of film to reach new heights.
As Victoria continues to push the boundaries of what opera can be, her fans and the industry alike eagerly anticipate the next chapter in her artistic journey. With her talent, vision, and the recent accolades that have solidified her status as a trailblazer, it’s clear that Victoria is not just preserving a tradition; she’s reinventing it for the modern era.