Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014

Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

1
La Divina -Maria Callas-
Field: Opera singer and actress.
Famous as:
Soprano and one of the most renowned and
influential opera singers of the 20th century. She
was very prolific. She had the leading role in
many operas, like Norma or Tosca.
She was hailed as La Divina due to her musical
and dramatic talents.
Biography facts
Born: December 2, 1923, New York, U.S.
Died: September 16, 1977, Paris, France.
Family: Her parents, George and Evangelia
Kalogeropoulos had emigrated from Greece to Long
Island, New York in August 1923.
George Kalogeropoulos sets up a pharmachy in a Greek
quarter of Manhattan and changes the family name to
Callas.
1932: Maria is given her fist paino lessons. Later in life
she is able to study all her roles at the piano without the
help of a "repetiteur".
1937: Her parents separate. Her mother, Evangelia
returns to Greece with her two daughters and changes
the family name back to Kalogeropoulos.


Maria Callas sang in her first major
opera at the age of 17, and became
successful at 20.


Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

2

Education:
In 1938, Maria Kalogeropoulos is admitted to the
National Conservatoire in Athens and begins her studies
under Maria Trivella. In April she Appears with fellow
students in first pubblic recital.
In 1939 Maria makes her stage debut as Santuzza and
wins the Conservatoires prize. Elvira de Hidalgo
becomes Marias teacher at the Conservatoire and
concentrates on coloratura training.

In
Mede
a by
Cherubi
ni

Life and career:

In 1941, she makes her professional operatic debut as Beatrice in "Boccaccio"
at the Palas Cinema with the Lyric Theatre company with whom she will sing in
""Tosca"", "Tiefland", "Cavalleria Rusticana", "Fidelio", and "Der Bettelstudent"
during the next four years.

In 1948, in Florence, Callas sings "Norma" for the first time and helped by
Meneghini as both husband and manager, Callas develops her career in Italy
and abroad during the next two years.

In 1951, Callas acted at La Scala, Milan in "I Vespri Siciliani" to great acclaim.
During the next seven years La Scala will be the scene of her greatest triumphs
in a wide range of roles.

In 1956, she sings for the first time at the Metropolitan in New York in
""Norma"", followed by ""Tosca"" and "Lucia".

In 1957, Elsa Maxwell, the American society hostess, introduces, the Meneghinis to the
Greek shipping magnate Aristotile Onassis at a party in Venice.
1959: By this time Callas has fewer professional engagements. She and Meneghini are
invited for a cruise in July on the Christina, Onassiss yacht, with several other guests
including Churchill. By the end of the cruise Callas and Onassis are lovers and the
Meneghini marriage is over.
1960/1961: Callas gives up the stage altogether and devotes herself to the
international high life with Onassis. By 1962 she is performing only at few concerts.
1964: January: Zeffirelli persuades Callas to return to opera at Covent Garden in a
memorable new production of "Tosca" that is highly praised on all counts.
Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

3
1965: July: She is scheduled to sing four performances of "Tosca" at Covent Garden.
She is advised on medical grounds to withdraw but she decides to sing just one,
choosing the Royal Gala on July 5. This is the final operatic preformance of her career.
1966: Callas relinquishes her American citizenship and takes Greek nationality.
Thereby technically annulling her marriage to Meneghini. She expects Onassis to marry
her but he does not.
1968: October 20: Onassis marries Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of assassinated US
president John F. Kennedy, after having cooled his relationship with Callas.
1974: November 11 The final concert of the tour with opera singer and close friend,
Di Stefano, takes place in Sapporo, Japan. This is Callass last public performance. The
liaison with Di Stefano finishes.
1977: September 16 Callas, died in Paris - but the cause of her death still remains
unclear.

Achievements and Legacy
Her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her "the Bible of
opera"

and her influence so enduring that, in 2006, Opera News wrote of her: "Nearly
thirty years after her death, she's still the definition of the diva as artistand still one
of classical music's best-selling vocalists."
Quotes:
I don't need the money, dear. I work for art. Maria Callas.

On stage, I am in the dark. Mara Callas.



Our nomination:
I have chosen Maria Callas because she had an incredible voice and she strove for being
a great star and the best at singing and performing.


Sources:
Official website: http://www.callas.it/english/cronologia.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/maria_callas.html
http://www.callas.it/english/foto.html
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Callas



Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

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More images:

She lost 40 kilos in a few months.
She turned herself from a heavy woman into a
svelte and glamorous one after a mid-career
weight loss.




Callas and Marylin Monroe.

She was part of the High Society. Here with
Princess Grace Kelly, Onassis, and Prince
Rainiero of Monaco.
Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

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With her lover and partner, the Greek
multimillionaire, Onassis.

With Italian director Paolo Passolini in the
shooting of the film Medea.







La Callas acting in Norma, in 1965
La Callas in La Scala Opera House of Milan
(1955)

Mara Callas in
Medea (Passolinis
film)

Maria Callas and her Spanish teacher of bel
canto, Elvira de Hidalgo in 1954
Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

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WATCH ONE OF HER WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-wiHzq_Bbk


Alberto Hernndez Lpez, English, 4ESO 2014
Teacher: Mara Soledad Fernndez Hdez.

7


Maria Callas during her final tour in Amsterdam in 1973