Who was Maria Callas, the revered opera singer acclaimed as the world's greatest diva?
Maria Callas, born on 2 December 1923 in New York City, was an American-born Greek soprano who captivated the world with her unique voice and extraordinary talent. Known as 'La Divina', Callas gained the love and respect of much of the world's population during her 33-year career.
Callas' early years were spent in New York City, where her parents also lived. However, it was in Greece that her singing career truly began. At the age of 13, Callas entered the Greek National Conservatoire to take singing lessons under Maria Trivella. In 1939, she joined the Athens Conservatoire to study with Elvira de Hidalgo.
Callas' big break came in 1949 when she was called on to perform the lead role in Bellini's I puritani at short notice. This marked her professional debut at the Greek National Opera in February 1941. Her first lead role was as Tosca in Puccini's opera of the same name in August 1942.
Callas made her debut with New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1956 and her Royal Opera House debut in Covent Garden, London in 1957. She considered her experience at the Royal Opera House as "a love affair" and returned again and again throughout the 1950s and 60s. Callas made her official debut at Milan's Teatro alla Scala in December 1951 and spent much of the decade as her theatrical home.
Callas' voice, described as "swirling and flaring like a flame" and filled the air with "melodious reverberations like a carillon" by her first teacher, Maria Trivella, divided opinion. Some found it harsh and penetrating, while others were struck by her sheer talent.
Maria Callas died of a heart attack in Paris on September 16, 1977, at the age of 53. Her funeral took place four days later at St Stephen's Greek Orthodox Cathedral and she was cremated. Her ashes were initially kept in the columbarium at Père Lachaise Cemetery but were stolen and later scattered into the Aegean Sea from the Greek coast.
A biopic about Maria Callas' life, starring Angelina Jolie, is about to land on Netflix, offering a new generation the chance to learn about this legendary soprano who's vocal range spanned just under three octaves, with her lowest note sung in performance being F-sharp3 and her highest being E6.
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