Today is the birthday of la divina Maria Callas, a legend in the world of opera. The adaptation above and the musical reference works/birthday calendars below were made by me, Frieke.
Maria Kalogeropoulos was born on December 2, 1923, in New York. Her surname, Kalogeropoulos, was shortened to Kalos on her birth certificate—kalós meaning “beautiful” in Greek—and was later transformed into Callas. At the age of fourteen, Maria traveled back to Greece with her mother, where she enrolled at the Greek National Conservatory. A year later, in 1938, she gave her first public performance. In 1942, she sang the title role in Tosca. Within ten years, she would be known by the nickname la divina—the divine one.
Callas’s career was marked by her incredible vocal range and expressive power. Her interpretations of roles in operas by composers such as Verdi, Puccini, and Bellini were praised for their emotional depth and technical perfection. She was not only a gifted singer but also a master at conveying the emotional nuances of her characters.
Some of Maria Callas’s most acclaimed performances include the title role in Bellini’s Norma, Violetta in La Traviata, Medea in Médée, Tosca in Puccini’s opera of the same name, and Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Her interpretations of these roles are considered among the finest in opera history, thanks to her expressive singing and dramatic intensity.
A Dramatic Life:
The life of Maria Callas was steeped in drama, both on and off the stage. Her relationship with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and her later, more solitary years contributed to her legendary status.
Maria Callas died of a heart attack in her Paris apartment on September 16, 1977.
The influence of Maria Callas continues to extend far beyond the world of opera. Her unique voice and theatrical interpretations have inspired generations of singers and music lovers.
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