The biography of Maria Callas, the most famous opera singer of the last century, is a combination of puzzles and secrets. All the performances in which she took part became an outlandish sight for the audience, because in each of her parts she put in incredible emotions and a bright palette of feelings.
Maria Callas, a native of New York, was born on December 2, 1923. She owes her outward appearance and temperament to parents who emigrated to America from Greece. It was the singer’s mother who influenced the fact that from an early age Maria became interested in art, already at the age of three she listened to classical music, at five she began to take piano lessons, and at eight she began to sing.
In 1937, Maria Callas, whose biography is one of the mysteries of the 20th century, went to Greece, namely to Athens. It was there that she began to study musical art at the conservatory. Experienced teachers immediately discerned her talent and tried to do everything to make Callas grow as a performer. In 1939, Maria performed the part of Santuzza in a student production based on the play by Pietro Mascani.
Maria Callas and her assistants
The biography of Maria Callas as a professional singer began precisely after participating in this performance, it was after him that the teachers invited the girl to another conservatory. There, Mary began to study opera art under the guidance of the Spanish diva Elvira de Hidalgo. Kallas respectfully recalled the lessons from Elvira and noted that she had not seen a more talented teacher in the world.
In 1941, Maria made her debut on the big stage, this happened in the theater of Athens, which were then occupied by the Germans. Then Callas sang the part in one of the famous operas of Giacomo Puccini - "Tosca". The unusual timbre of the singer immediately pleased the listeners, because he was fundamentally different from those that they had heard before.
The biography of Maria Callas from 1941 to 1945 is closely connected with Athens, it was there that she worked until the end of World War II. Popularity and fame came to the opera diva in 1947 after performing at the famous theater “Arerna di Verona”, where she took part in the production of “The Mona Lisa” by Amilcar Ponchielli. By a lucky coincidence, at that moment the opera art festival was functioning there, which brought together all the most famous conductors and performers. The young talented singer made a splash at the festival.
Maria Callas and the rivalry
The biography of Maria Callas here made another sharp turn. Tullio Serafin, who was a famous Italian conductor, drew her attention to her. It was he who invited her to Venice, where Maria performed the leading roles in the operas Turandot and Tristan and Isolda. According to the performer, it is Serafin who owes her fame and popularity.
In 1953, Maria had a rival - Renata Tebaldi. For ten years, opera divas competed with each other, however, for classical musical art this competition was only beneficial. Both singers sang a huge number of opera works and became incredibly popular.
In recent years, the talented singer Maria Callas spent in Paris. September 16, 1977 the great opera diva did not. Until now, the exact cause of the death of the singer has not been established, and it is unlikely to be able to do this - Callas bequeathed to cremate herself and dispel the ashes over the Aegean Sea.