Maria Callas

Date of Birth: December 2, 1923

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: September 16, 1977

Biography

Maria Callas, born Maria Anna Cecilia Sofia Kalogeropoulou, was a renowned Greek-American soprano, celebrated for her exceptional talent and dramatic intensity on the opera stage. Born in New York City to Greek immigrant parents, Callas showed an early interest in music and singing. Her family moved to Greece when she was a child, where she received her formal musical education at the Athens Conservatoire under the tutelage of the famous soprano Elvira de Hidalgo. Callas made her professional debut in 1941 in Greece, and her career took off after World War II when she moved to Italy. She gained international fame in the late 1940s and 1950s, performing at major opera houses around the world, including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Royal Opera House in London. Known for her powerful voice and dramatic interpretations, she was particularly acclaimed for her performances in operas by Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. Despite her professional success, Callas’ personal life was tumultuous. She had a high-profile affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, which drew much media attention. Her career began to decline in the early 1960s due to vocal problems and personal issues. She gave her final public performance in 1974 and spent her later years in relative seclusion in Paris, where she died in 1977.

5 Interesting Facts about Maria Callas

1. Maria Callas was known as “La Divina” due to her outstanding vocal talent and dramatic stage presence.

2. She played a significant role in reviving the bel canto technique, which emphasizes beautiful, lyrical singing.

3. Callas had a famously intense and volatile relationship with Aristotle Onassis, who later left her to marry Jacqueline Kennedy.

4. She struggled with vocal issues throughout her career, which some attribute to her dramatic weight loss in the 1950s.

5. Despite her fame, Callas was often insecure about her voice and her performances, constantly striving for perfection.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maria Callas

1. “An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I’ve left the opera house.”

2. “Don’t talk to me about rules, dear. Wherever I stay, I make the goddamn rules.”

3. “You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.”

4. “First I lost my voice, then I lost my figure and then I lost Onassis.”

5. “I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best.”