Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 2, 1923 in New York City, NY

Death

:

September 16, 1977 in Paris, France

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

Maria Callas was a renowned Greek-American soprano who is widely regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. Born on December 2, 1923, in New York City, Maria was the daughter of Greek immigrants. Her father, George Kalogeropoulos, was a pharmacist, and her mother, Evangelia, was a soprano who had studied at the Athens Conservatory. Maria's parents divorced when she was young, and she and her mother moved to Athens, Greece, where Maria began her musical training. She studied at the Athens Conservatory and made her stage debut at the age of 15 in a production of "Cavalleria Rusticana." She continued to perform in Greece and made her debut at the Greek National Opera in 1942 in the role of Tosca. In 1945, Maria moved to Italy to further her career and began studying with the renowned soprano Elvira de Hidalgo. She made her debut at La Scala in Milan in 1950 in the role of Brünnhilde in Wagner's "Die Walküre." Her performance was a sensation, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world. Maria's career was marked by a series of acclaimed performances in some of the most challenging roles in the operatic repertoire. She was particularly noted for her interpretations of the works of Verdi, Bellini, and Donizetti. Her voice was characterized by its power, agility, and emotional intensity, and she was known for her ability to convey the dramatic and emotional depth of the characters she portrayed. One of Maria's most famous performances was in the title role of "Norma" by Bellini. Her interpretation of the role is considered one of the greatest in the history of opera, and her recording of the opera is still regarded as a benchmark for all subsequent performances. She also had great success in the role of Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata," which she performed in many of the world's leading opera houses. Maria's personal life was marked by a series of tumultuous relationships and scandals. She was married twice, first to the industrialist Giovanni Battista Meneghini and later to the shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Her relationship with Onassis was particularly controversial, as he was still married to Jacqueline Kennedy at the time of their affair. Despite her personal difficulties, Maria continued to perform at the highest level throughout her career. She received numerous awards and honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. She was also the subject of several biographies and documentaries, including the 1977 film "Callas Forever" and the 2002 documentary "Maria Callas: Living and Dying for Art and Love." Maria's career was cut short by her premature death in 1977 at the age of 53. She died of a heart attack in Paris, France, where she had been living in semi-retirement. Her legacy as one of the greatest opera singers of all time continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians and music lovers.

More....