Biography. Maria Callas: the secrets of the life and death of the great opera singer The life and work of Maria Callas
Legendary opera singer of Greek origin, one of the best sopranos of the 20th century. Unique voice data, impressive bel canto technique and a truly dramatic approach to performance made Maria Callas the greatest star of the world opera stage, and the tragic story of his personal life constantly attracted the attention of the public and the press. For her outstanding musical and dramatic talent, she was named "Goddess" (La Divina) by connoisseurs of operatic art.
Maria Callas, née Sophia Cecelia Kalos, was born on December 2, 1923 in New York in a family of immigrants from Greece. Her mother, The Gospels of Kalos(Evangelia Kalos), noticing her daughter's musical talent, forced her to sing at the age of five, which the little girl did not like at all. In 1937, Maria's parents separated, and she moved with her mother to Greece. Relations with her mother only worsened, in 1950 Maria stopped keeping in touch with her.
Maria received her musical education at the Athens Conservatory.
Her teacher Maria Trivella(Maria Trivella) recalls: “She was the perfect student. Fanatical, uncompromising, completely dedicated to singing her heart and soul. Her progress has been phenomenal. She practiced five to six hours a day, and six months later she sang the most difficult arias. "
The first public performance took place in 1938 Callas shortly thereafter, she landed minor roles at the Greek National Opera. The small salary she received there helped her family to make ends meet during the difficult times of war. Maria's debut in the title role took place in 1942 at the Olympia Theater and received rave reviews from the press.
After the war, Callas went to the United States, where her father lived. George Callas(George Kalos). She was accepted into the prestigious Metropolitan Opera, but soon turned down a contract that offered inappropriate roles and low pay. In 1946, Callas moved to Italy. In Verona, she met Giovanni Battista Meneghini(Giovanni Battista Meneghini). The wealthy industrialist was much older than her, but in 1949 she married him. Prior to their divorce in 1959, Meneghini directed a career Callas, becoming her impresario and producer. In Italy, the singer managed to meet an outstanding conductor Tullio Seraphin(Tullio Serafin). Their joint work marked the beginning of her successful international career.
In 1949 in Venice Maria Callas performed a very diverse role: Brunhildes in "Valkyrie" Wagner and Elvira in "The Puritans" Bellini- an unprecedented event in the history of opera. This was followed by brilliant roles in operas Cherubini and Rossini... In 1950, she gave 100 concerts, setting her personal best. In 1951, Callas made his debut at the legendary La Scala stage in the opera Verdi"Sicilian Vespers". On the main opera stage in the world, she took part in productions Herbert von Karajan(Herbert von Karajan), Marguerite Wallmann(Margherita Wallmann), Luchino Visconti(Luchino Visconti) and Franco Zeffirelli. A long and very fruitful cooperation began in 1952. Maria Callas with the London Royal Opera.
In 1953, Callas rapidly lost weight, having lost 36 kg in a year. She deliberately changed her figure for the sake of performing. Many believe that the sudden change in weight was the reason for the early loss of voice, at the same time, it is undeniable that she gained confidence, and her voice became softer and more feminine.
In 1956, she triumphantly returned to the Metropolitan Opera with roles in Norma Bellini and "Aide" Verdi... She has performed on the best opera stages and performed classics: parts in Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti, "Troubadour" and "Macbeth" Verdi, "Toske" Puccini.
In 1957 Maria Callas met the man who turned her life - a multibillionaire, Greek ship owner Aristotle Onassis... In 1959, Callas left her husband, Onassis's wife filed for divorce. The high-profile romance of the flamboyant couple attracted press attention for nine years. But in 1968, Callas' dreams of a new marriage and a happy family life collapsed: Onassis married the widow of the American president Jacqueline Kennedy(Jacqueline Kennedy).
In fact, her illustrious career ended when she was in her early 40s. She gave her last concert at the Royal Opera House in 1965. Her technique was still excellent, but her unique voice lacked strength.
In 1969 Maria Callas the only time she starred in a movie not in an operatic role. She played the role of the heroine of ancient Greek myths Medea in the film of the same name by the Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini(Pier Paolo Pasolini).
The break with Onassis, the loss of her voice and the early end of her career crippled Maria. The most successful opera singer of the 20th century spent the last years of her life almost alone and died suddenly in 1977 at the age of 53 from a heart attack. According to her will, the ashes were scattered over the Aegean Sea.
Singer Montserrat Caballe(Montserrat Caballé) about the role Callas in the world opera: “It opened the door for all the singers of the world, behind which there was not only great music, but also a great idea of interpretation. She gave us the chance to do things that seemed inconceivable before her. I never dreamed of reaching her level. It is wrong to compare us - I am much smaller than her. "
In 2002, a friend of Callas Franco Zeffirelli made a film in memory of the great singer - "Callas Forever". The role of Callas was played by the Frenchwoman Fanny Ardant.
In 2007 Callas was posthumously awarded the Grammy Award for Excellence in Music. In the same year she was named Best Soprano of All Time by BBC Music Magazine. Thirty years after her death, Greece issued a € 10 commemorative coin depicting Callas. A large number of various artists made a dedication to Callas in their work: groups R.E.M., Enigma, Faithless, singers Celine Dion and Rufus Wainwright.
Maestro Carlo Maria Giulini(Carlo Maria Giulini) on the voice Callas: “It's very difficult to find words to describe her voice. He was a special instrument. This happens with strings: violin, viola, cello - when you first hear them, they give a strange impression. But if you listen for a few minutes, become akin to this sound, and it acquires magical qualities. Callas's voice was like that. "
Name: Sofia Cecilia Kalos (at baptism Maria Anna Sofia Kekilia Kalogeropoulou)
State: USA
Field of activity: opera
Greatest achievement: one of the most famous and great opera singers of the 20th century
It probably won't be an exaggeration to say that the name of Maria Callas is familiar even to those who have never been to the opera and have not heard her wonderful voice (even in the recording). Her brilliant career was a kind of payment for the setbacks in her personal life, which filled the singer's life.
Biography
The future star was born in New York on December 2, 1923 in a family of immigrants from Greece. Unfortunately, even before birth, being in the womb, Mary seemed to feel that even for the love of her parents she would have to fight. Living in Greece, the parents of the future singer experienced the tragedy-death of their son. A daughter, Cynthia, was already growing up in the family. Gospel, Mary's mother, was pregnant when Georgios Kalogeropoulos, the father of the family, decided to move from sunny Greece to the USA, away from bitter memories. The family settled in New York.
Parents were really looking forward to the birth of their son to replace Basil, but another girl was born. This was a real blow to the mother. During the first days after giving birth, the mother refused to even look at the baby, but over time, the parents resigned themselves and started raising their daughter.
Growing up, adults began to understand that the girl was growing unusually talented. Maria began listening to classical music at the age of 3, at five - playing the piano, and at eight - studying with a vocal teacher. In addition to musical education, the mother devoted a lot of time to books and constantly took her daughter to the library.
In 1936, Maria and her mother went to Greece to continue their education in their historical homeland. The girl entered the Athens Conservatory, where Elvira De Hidalgo, the then famous opera singer with an amazing coloratura soprano, became her mentor. Maria's debut as a singer took place in 1941. It was Puccini's opera Tosca.
Mother was very demanding in relation to Mary, constantly criticizing and seeking perfection in everything. later this was reflected in the later life of Callas - she will always strive for excellence in performance, no matter what the circumstances. Maria had a bright appearance, but the demands of her mother raised an inferiority complex in her - it seemed to her that she was ugly, clumsy, fat, and she had no voice. Even when the life and recognition of the fans proved otherwise.
In 1945 Maria Callas returned to America. Her real creative path begins, but so far unsuccessfully - her performances were accompanied by a series of refusals. Finally, in 1947 in Verona, on the stage of the amphitheater, the audience for the first time could contemplate a new star in the opera La Gioconda, directed by conductor Tullio Serafin. Maria connects her acquaintance with him with the beginning of her dizzying career, because it is he who becomes her guiding star and provides parts in Aida, Valkyrie, Puritans and other opera performances.
Two years later, in 1949, Maria went on her first big tour to Latin America, where she was also expected to be successful. But it is Italy that becomes her new home, giving the opportunity to perform. In 1950, she sings at the legendary La Scala, which by operatic standards is the height of prestige and recognition.
Italy also gave Maria the opportunity to change her personal life - in Verona she met the businessman Giovanni Meneghini, who was a big fan of opera. Despite the solid age difference - almost 20 years - Maria accepted his marriage proposal, and in 1949 they got married. Giovanni becomes the star's producer and Maria's most devoted fan. It would seem that this is happiness - the full auditoriums applaud Callas, at home her faithful husband, who loves her more than life, is waiting for her. But fate prepared an even more difficult test for Mary. In 1957, in Venice, at one of the social events, Maria met the Greek ship owner and millionaire Aristotle Onassis.
Then a spark did not run between them, but Maria noticed an imposing Greek to herself. Their next meeting took place 2 years later. Onassis invited the opera diva and her husband to take a trip on his yacht. This became the starting point in their relationship - Onassis filed for divorce from his wife, Maria left her faithful husband, and the couple began to appear everywhere together. Maria moved to Paris to be closer to Aristotle. There was talk of a wedding, but the deceived husband Callas did everything to prevent a divorce, delaying this process as much as he could. In addition, he and Giovanni were married in a church, and this was considered indestructible at that time - the Vatican categorically refused to annul the singer's marriage.
Aristotle and Mary began to live in a civil marriage, but it was difficult to call it a peaceful existence. Constant quarrels accompanied their union. In 1966, Maria found out that she was expecting a baby. Onassis was categorical - only an abortion.
Afraid of losing her love, Callas went for it and for the rest of her life regretted her decision. In the meantime, she tried to spend all her time with her lover, even canceled the performances, which is why she gained the reputation of a capricious diva. The disrupted performances cost a lot of money (payment of the penalty), but Maria was unstoppable. The joint torment continued for two more years, and then Callas learned that Aristotle was going to marry the former first lady of the United States, a widow, Jacqueline.
last years of life
The devastated star preferred to live alone in Paris. Her career was also coming to its logical end - her voice began to fail, her health was failing. Even in her youth, Maria was seized by a crisis in her life, because of which extra pounds were rapidly added, and she seemed even more unattractive to herself. In the early 1970s, she became an educator, teaching at the Juilliard School, one of the world's most prestigious music schools. In 1977, Maria Callas died in an apartment in Paris, all alone due to cardiac arrest. She was cremated, her ashes scattered on the waves of the Aegean Sea, and an empty urn was placed in a columbarium in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
During her lifetime, her name became legendary. She was admired, feared. However, for all her genius and contradictions, she always remained a woman who wanted to be loved and needed.
What has Maria Callas, one of the most outstanding opera singers of the 20th century, achieved and lost?
As a child, Maria was fat and ugly. But this girl suddenly showed real talent. At the age of eight, she sat down at the piano, and it immediately became clear: she was born to be associated with music. Not having yet really mastered musical notation, she could already quite successfully select various melodies on the piano.
At ten, Maria sang her first arias from Bizet's opera Carmen. By doing so, he surprised his mother, a former pianist who had never taken place. The Gospels began to encourage the performance of their youngest daughter at all kinds of children's concerts and matinees.
In 1934, ten-year-old Maria took part in the national radio competition of amateur singers, taking second place and receiving a wristwatch as a gift.
First success
Believing that it will be difficult to succeed in America, the mother transports thirteen-year-old Maria to Greece. There Callas quickly learns a completely unfamiliar Greek language and, having confused that she was already sixteen, enters first at the National Conservatory, and two years later - at the Athens. The famous singer, owner of the wonderful coloratura soprano Elvira de Hidalgo, who later replaced her mother and her first friends, became her new teacher.
In 1940, Callas made his debut on the stage of the Athens National Opera. One of the leading singers of the theater suddenly fell ill, and Maria was offered the lead role in Puccini's opera Tosca. At the moment of going on stage, one of the workers said loudly: "Is such an elephant capable of singing Tosca?" Maria reacted immediately.
No one had time to come to his senses, as the offender's torn shirt was already gushing blood from his own nose. Unlike the stupid worker, the audience was delighted to hear the beautiful performance. It was echoed by critics, who posted praise and rave notes in their newspapers the next day.
In 1945, Maria decided to return to America, where her father and ... uncertainty awaited her.
Millionaire from Verona
Success in Greece proved to be almost nothing for American producers. After two years of failure, she meets Giovanni Zenatello, who offered her the role of La Gioconda in the opera of the same name. And for a long time, the life of Mary was connected with Italy.
It was in Verona that she met the local industrialist Giovanni Batista Meneghini. He was twice her age and passionately loved opera, and with her, and Maria. Throughout the season, he brought her huge bouquets of flowers every night. This was followed by appearances and declarations of love. Giovanni sold his business entirely and devoted himself to Callas.
In 1949, Maria Callas signed with the Verona millionaire. Batista became everything for Maria - both a faithful spouse, and a loving father, and a devoted manager, and a generous producer. Meneghini also agreed with the renowned conductor Tullio Serafin to take on his wife's training. It was Tullio who discovered Callas for the world stage and subsequent generations of classical music lovers. In 1950, the whole world was already talking about it. She is invited by the legendary Teatro alla Scala in Milan, followed by London's Covent Garden and New York's Metropolitan Opera.
Contradictory image
With the advent of popularity, Callas begins to form her new stage image, which will become her hallmark for the next twenty years.
She goes on an unprecedented diet, as a result of which she manages to lose thirty-five kilograms. Her character also underwent metamorphoses.
Callas has always been hardworking and meticulous when it comes to art. It infuriated her if she saw that someone gave less to art than she did. It was then that Callas gained a reputation as a brawler.
The situation was complicated by the administrators: they believed that Maria should always be in shape. The scandal erupted when the president of the republic came to the production of Norma in Rome. Even before the start of the performance, Maria felt unwell and offered to replace her with another performer, but the theater administration insisted on performing. Chanting the first act somehow made her feel even worse. In order not to finally lose her voice, Maria refused to continue the performance. However, the newspapermen presented everything in their own way.
“Ignoring my health, they began to talk about my bad character with might and main,”
- Callas will say later.
Crucial moment
The scandal in Rome marked the beginning of the decline of the career of the great singer. The day before the premiere of Bellini's opera Pirate, Callas underwent surgery. The recovery period was very difficult. Maria did not eat anything and almost completely stopped sleeping. Despite the severity of her condition, she entered the La Scala stage and, as always, was incomparable. The audience began to greet their goddess. But the theater management thought differently.
At the very climax, when Maria was ready to step out from behind the curtains, a fire-prevention iron curtain fell on the stage, completely protecting her from the enthusiastic spectators. For Callas, this was an unambiguous sign.
“It was as if they were saying to me:“ Get out! The show is over! "
- she admitted in an interview. With a heavy heart, she leaves Italy and concentrates her energies on performing in America.
The crisis in professional activity coincided for Maria with no less dramatic events in her personal life. Batista Meneghini turned out to be a good impresario, but not the most successful husband. His relationship to Callas was more like a fatherly concern than a full-fledged love of a man for a woman.
Golden greek
In 1958, Maria was invited with her husband to the annual Venetian ball hosted by the Countess of Castelbarco. Among other guests, the Greek tanker king Aristotle Onassis and his wife Tina were also present. Always in love with everything beautiful and world famous, Ari was intrigued by the opera diva.
Trying to charm Callas, Onassis resorted to his favorite tactic - he invited Maria and her husband to his luxurious yacht Christina. Callas noted that she would gladly accept this invitation, but she had to postpone for the time being due to her busy touring schedule. For example, she will now perform at London's Covent Garden. Having always harbored contempt for opera, Aristotle surprised his wife a lot when he quickly said: "We will definitely be there!"
Upon hearing this, Giovanni experienced a strange feeling of fear and regret, as if heralding the beginning of the end of their married life. There were too many similarities between the kindred Greek souls of Aristotle and Mary. It seemed that they found each other in this endless whirlwind of hectic life.
Signor Meneghini was not deceived by forebodings. As promised, he attended the premiere, organizing a gorgeous banquet in honor of the opera goddess after the performance. One hundred and sixty people - the most significant and influential people in the United Kingdom - received an invitation that read: "Mr. and Mrs. Onassis have the honor to invite you to dinner at the Dorchester Hotel on June 17th at 11.15 pm." Ari also sent the forty most eminent guests tickets to the performance itself, which were worth their weight in gold at that time.
The celebration lasted until the morning. At the end of the banquet, Maria, nevertheless yielding to the pressure of Onassis, agreed to accept his invitation to a cruise in the Mediterranean. Stepping on the deck of the "Christina", Maria took a step into a new era in her life.
The plush yacht, more like a floating museum than a vehicle, set sail from the dock in Monte Carlo for a three-week luxury sail. Callas was not the only guest of honor on this cruise.
In addition to her, the great Winston Churchill was also present with his wife Clementine, daughter Sarah, personal physician Lord Moran and beloved canary Toby. When the Christina docked in Delphi, the renowned company took a pleasant walk to the Temple of Apollo. Everyone was in good spirits, languishing in anticipation of the famous prophecies.
But this time, the Delphic Oracle struck everyone with silence. And what could he have predicted? The patriarch of world politics, Sir Winston Churchill, was waiting for the end of his life, Tina - a divorce from Aristotle, Onassis himself - the death of his son and an unsuccessful marriage with Jacqueline Kennedy, Maria - the tragic end of a stellar career, Giovanni Meneghini, who sacrificed everything for his wife, - a scandalous divorce and sad memories of former happiness. Needless to say, the Delphic oracle acted wisely.
During the cruise, Onassis used all his charm to seduce Mary. And she gave up ... And immediately, not used to hiding her thoughts and feelings, she informed her husband about this:
“It's all over between us. I'm crazy about Ari. "
At the mercy of Eros
The relationship with Aristotle Onassis was the most exciting in the life of an opera goddess. He became her first love, as strong as it was belated.
Maria tried to delve into all aspects of the life of her beloved. Unlike his first wife, Maria could go to the galley before dinner without any warning and personally watch the cooking process.
This obsession caused a lot of anxiety among the chef Onassis Clement Miral. He was especially horrified when Callas, with the air of a sophisticated gourmet, lifted the lid of some delicious dish and, dipping a piece of bread into it, tasted it. To Miral's astonished question what he would say to his boss when he found pieces of bread in his plate, she nonchalantly replied:
"Tell him it's his new mistress's fault!"
When information about the relationship between Callas and Onassis was leaked to the press, a secular scandal erupted.
Onassis' wife Tina immediately took her children - 12-year-old Alexander and 9-year-old Christina - and disappeared in an unknown direction. Cornered, outwardly Onassis remained calm and answered reporters' questions:
"I am a sailor and this kind of thing can happen to sailors from time to time."
Deep in his soul, Ari was quite worried about the situation. Having learned through his channels that Tina was hiding with her father, the Greek shipowner Stavros Livanos, Aristotle began to besiege his wife, trying to explain that Callas was just an intelligent and devoted girlfriend for him, helping him in solving business issues. It is unlikely that Tina could be convinced by an obvious lie. And Meneghini became nervous when he realized that Maria would never return to him. The abandoned spouses - Giovanni and Tina - filed for divorce.
Many influential friends of Aristotle were drawn into the high-profile scandal. Even a close friend of Onassis, Whiston Churchill, they tried to involve in an ugly showdown. But he just snorted in displeasure and muttered something not quite clear to himself. The issues of family and marriage have always meant little in the life of the patriarch of world politics, but with the onset of old age, burdened with melancholy and depression, there was absolutely no place left for them.
These were not the best times for both Onassis and Maria. Aristotle tossed between two women, while Mary tried to get used to her new role of mistress. Their feelings seemed to be tested for strength.
And they passed this test with honor. In 1960, both became free.
Free swimming
Maria was optimistic about the changes that had taken place. Finally, she belonged to herself and to someone else, very valuable and beloved. She confessed:
“I lived too long with a person much older than myself, it even began to seem to me that I was getting old ahead of time. My life passed as if in a cage, and it was only when I first met Aristo and his friends, who radiate all the diversity of life, that I became a completely different woman. "
New horizons opened up before her. And soon Callas discovered that she was pregnant. A new chapter began in the book of her life, the distinctive features of which were to be home comfort, cheerful children's cries and the gentle embrace of her beloved man. And work - her favorite work - could not help but take revenge on the singer for such inattention. Suddenly, her unforgettable voice began to change, and there was nothing she could do about it. Years later, Mary will say:
“For the first time, I had complexes, and I began to lose my former courage. Negative reviews have had a terrible impact, leading me into a creative crisis. This is the first time I've lost control of my own voice. "
Callas needed help, advice and support more than ever. She turns to the person closest to her - Aristotle. But it looks like it was an unsuccessful candidate. Onassis is too far from the problems of art and the mental anguish of his beloved. A joint child could change the situation, but even here Callas was in for a bitter disappointment. The boy, whom she named Omero, was born dead. She had only one thing to do: try to regain her former glory and marry Aristotle, acquiring the status of an official wife and keeper of the home.
First lady
After painful divorce proceedings, Aristotle and Mary began to appear together in society without any hesitation. One of the witnesses to their next date in the Monte Carlo nightclub recalled:
“They can't dance cheek to cheek because Miss Callas is somewhat taller than Mr. Onassis. Therefore, when they dance, Mary tilts her head and slightly pinches her beloved's ear with her lips, thereby causing him to laugh enthusiastically.
Seeing how rapidly the relationship between lovers is developing, everyone only lived in anticipation of a new gorgeous wedding. However, neither Mary nor Aristotle rushed things. Answering the intrusive questions of an Italian magazine, Callas was evasive and secretive:
"I can only say one thing - there is a very tender and sensitive friendship between me and Mr. Onassis."
But, despite all the expectations, the marriage never took place - neither in 1960, nor after. Three years after the divorce, a new woman will appear in the life of Onassis, to whom he will offer not only a hand and a heart, but also a fair share of his fortune.
In the summer of 1963, Aristotle invited US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to his yacht Christina. Even before meeting Mrs. Kennedy personally, Onassis was intrigued by her image, which combined beauty and high position in society.
And when Jackie stepped on the deck of his yacht, he inundated her with gifts. When the first lady returns to the White House, one of her husband's aides will remark:
"Stars were shining in Jackie's eyes - Greek stars!"
Callas did not immediately recognize Mrs. Kennedy as a threat. Maria was sure that Onassis would never go against the US president for another love affair. The situation changed dramatically after the tragic shots in Dallas.
After the death of John, Aristotle begins to actively look after Jacqueline. Now with her, he began to make lonely voyages on the "Christina" in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Callas was alarmed, but she could not change anything. Jackie is younger than her and even more famous. The attitude of Onassis has also changed. Instead of a constant companion, he turned for Maria into a casual companion who visited her from time to time.
Sometimes these visits were quite exciting for both Callas and Ari himself. Once, succumbing to momentary pleasure, he agreed to marry Mary. Preparations for the wedding, which it was decided to play in early March 1968 in London, took place in an atmosphere of the strictest secrecy.
At the last moment, Callas was horrified to discover that she did not have a birth document. The duplicate was ready two weeks later, which became fatal in the life of the great singer. Just a few minutes before the start of the wedding ceremony, she fell out with the groom, losing him almost forever. In June of the same year, Onassis played another wedding, only the bride was not Callas, but the former first lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy. The most tragic stage in the life of Mary began.
Final curtain
She still tried to return to the stage. But that was already a different time and a different voice. Now Maria had to compete with her former self, and the result was clearly not in her favor. In moments of frankness, she admits:
“The day is easy to live, but the night ... You close the bedroom door and are left alone. What would you like to do? Howl like a wolf? "
Amazingly, Onassis, despite his marriage, continued to stay in her life, visiting whenever he pleased. The marriage with Jacqueline was unsuccessful, so secret meetings between two lovers were not such a rare occurrence. But all the same it was not that, not so ... Their love died.
Therefore, the real death of Onassis in March 1975 did not change anything in the life of Mary. She has long been alone ... No one needed, no one loved. Perhaps this was one of the worst sentences for a woman, who was applauded by thousands and worshiped by millions.
Life ceased to have any meaning. On September 16, 1977, Maria was found dead in her apartment.
Years will pass, and the merciless time will erase from the memory of many participants in this drama. Only the divine voice of Maria Callas will remain. One that is able to make people brighter and cleaner. But which never brought happiness to its owner.
The biography of Maria Callas, the most famous opera singer of the last century, is a tangle of mysteries and secrets. All the performances in which she took part became an outlandish spectacle for the audience, because in each of her roles she put incredible emotions and a bright palette of feelings.
Maria Callas - a native of New York, was born on December 2, 1923. She owes her appearance and temperament to her parents who emigrated to America from Greece. It was the singer's mother who influenced the fact that Maria became interested in art from early childhood, at the age of three the girl 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 music at the conservatory. Experienced teachers immediately discerned talent in her and tried to do everything for Callas to 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 Maria began her opera studies under the guidance of the Spanish diva Elvira de Hidalgo. Callas respectfully recalled the lessons of 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, it happened in the theater of Athens, which were then occupied by the Germans. Then Callas sang a part in one of the famous operas of Giacomo Puccini - "Tosca". The singer's unusual timbre immediately fell in love with the listeners, because it was radically different from those that they had heard before.
The biography of Maria Callas in the period from 1941 to 1945 is closely connected with Athens, it was there that she worked until the very end of the Second World War. The opera diva gained popularity and fame in 1947 after performing at the famous Teatro Arerna di Verona, where she took part in the production of La Gioconda by Amilcar Ponchielli. By a lucky coincidence, at that moment, an opera 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 took another sharp turn. Tullio Serafin, who was a famous Italian conductor, drew attention to her. It was he who invited her to Venice, where Maria performed the leading roles in the operas Turandot and Tristan and Isolde. According to the performer, it is to Seraphin that she owes her fame and popularity.
In 1953, Maria had a rival - Renata Tebaldi. For ten years, opera divas competed with each other, however, for the classical musical art this competition was only beneficial. Both singers sang a huge number of operatic works and became incredibly popular.
The talented singer Maria Callas spent her last years in Paris. On September 16, 1977, the great opera diva passed away. Until now, the exact cause of the singer's death has not been established, and this is unlikely to be done - Callas bequeathed to cremate herself and scatter the ashes over the Aegean Sea.
Maria Callas is an amazing woman with a unique bright voice that has fascinated viewers of the best concert halls in the world for many years. Strong, beautiful, incredibly sophisticated, she won the hearts of millions of listeners, but she could not win the heart of her only beloved person. Fate has prepared for the opera diva many trials and tragic turns, ups and downs, pleasures and disappointments.
Childhood
The singer Maria Callas was born in 1923 in New York, in a family of Greek emigrants who, shortly before the birth of their daughter, moved to America in search of a better life. Before the birth of Mary, the Callas family already had children - a son and a daughter. However, the boy's life was interrupted so early that the parents did not even have time to enjoy raising their son.
The mother of the future world star during pregnancy went to mourning and asked the higher powers for a son to be born - a replacement for the deceased child. But a girl was born - Maria. At first, the woman did not even come to the cradle of the child. And for many years of life, coldness and a certain detachment in relation to each other stood between Maria Callas and her mother. There has never been a good relationship between women. They were connected only by constant claims and unspoken grievances towards each other. This was the brutal truth of life.
Maria's father tried to engage in the pharmacy business, but the economic crisis of the 30s of the twentieth century, which gripped the United States, left no chances for the fulfillment of the rainbow dream. There was a constant lack of money, which made scandals in the Callas family the norm. Maria grew up in such an atmosphere, and it was an ordeal for her. In the end, after much deliberation, unable to withstand the poor, almost beggarly existence, Maria's mother took them and her sister, divorced her husband and returned to their homeland, to Greece. Here the biography of Maria Callas took a sharp turn, from which it all began. Maria at that time was only 14 years old.
Studying at the Conservatory
Maria Callas was a gifted child. From childhood, she showed a talent for music, had an excellent memory, easily memorized all the songs she heard and immediately gave them out to the court of the street environment. The girl's mother realized that her daughter's study of music can be a good investment in a comfortable future for the family. The musical biography of Maria Callas began its countdown exactly from the moment when her mother gave the future star to the Ethnikon Odeon Conservatory in Athens. The girl's first teacher was Maria Trivella, well-known in musical circles.
Music was everything to Maria Callas. She lived only within the walls of the classroom - she loved, breathed, felt - outside the school, turning into a girl unadapted to life, full of fears and contradictions. Outwardly unsightly - fat, in creepy glasses - inside Maria hid the whole world, bright, lively, beautiful, and did not know about the true price of her talent.
Success in musical literacy was gradual, unhurried. Studying was given by hard work, but it brought great pleasure. I must say that nature has awarded Maria with pedantry. Meticulousness and scrupulousness were very obvious traits of her character.
Later, Callas moved to another conservatory - Odeon Afion, in the class of the singer Elvira de Hidalgo, I must say, an outstanding singer who helped Maria to form not only her own style in the performance of musical material, but also to bring her voice to perfection.
First successes
Maria tasted her first success after her brilliant debut performance at the Athens Opera House with Santuzza in Mascagni's Rural Honor. It was an incomparable feeling, so sweet and heady, but it didn’t turn the girl’s head. Callas understood that exhausting work is required to achieve true heights. And work should have been done not only on the voice. Maria's external data, or rather her appearance, at that time did not give a gramme in a woman the signs of a future goddess of opera music - she was fat, in incomprehensible clothes that looked more like a hoodie rather than a concert costume, with shiny hair ... what in the beginning was the one that, over the years, drove thousands of men crazy and set the vector of movement in style and fashion for many women.
Conservatory training ended in the mid-40s, and Maria Callas's musical biography was supplemented by touring tours in Italy. Cities and concert venues changed, but the halls were full everywhere - opera lovers came to enjoy the girl's magnificent voice, so heartfelt and sincere, which charmed and bewitched everyone who heard it.
It is believed that wide popularity came to her only after the role of La Gioconda in the opera of the same name performed on the stage of the Arena di Verona festival.
Giovanni Battista Meneghini
Soon, fate presented Maria Callas with a meeting with her future husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini. An Italian industrialist, a grown man (almost twice as old as Maria), he was very fond of opera and was very sympathetic to Callas.
Meneghini was a peculiar person. He lived with his mother, he did not have a family, but not because he was a convinced bachelor. It's just that for a long time there was no suitable woman for him, and Giovanni himself did not specifically search for a life partner. By nature, he was quite calculating, passionate about his work, far from handsome, moreover, not tall.
He began to look after Maria, give her gorgeous bouquets, expensive gifts. For the girl, who until now had lived only by music, all this was new and unusual, but very pleasant. As a result, the opera singer accepted the courting of the gentleman. They merried.
Maria was not adapted to life, and Giovanni was everything to her in this sense. He replaced her beloved father, listened to the emotional anxieties and worries of a woman, was her confidant of affairs and played the role of an impresario, ensured life, peace and comfort.
Family life
Their marriage was not built on feelings and passions, it rather resembled a quiet haven, in which there is no place for unrest and storm.
The newly minted family settled in Milan. Their beautiful home - a family nest - was under the supervision and strict control of Mary. In addition to household chores, Callas studied music, toured the United States, Latin and South America and never even thought about marital infidelity. She herself remained faithful to her husband and never thought of being jealous of him or suspecting him of infidelity. Then Callas was still that Maria who could do a lot for a man, for example, without hesitation, leave a career for the sake of a family. You just had to ask her about it ...
In the early 50s, luck turned to face Maria Callas. She was invited to perform at La Scala in Milan. It was a truly great proposal, and it was not the only one. Right there, Covent Garden in London, the Chicago Opera House, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York opened their doors for the singer. In 1960, Maria Callas became a full-time soloist at La Scala, and her career was replenished with the best operatic roles. Maria Callas's arias are numerous, among them the role of Lucia and Anne Boleyn in Lucia di Lammermoor and in Anne Boleyn by Donizetti; Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, Tosca in Puccini's Tosca and others.
Transformation
Gradually, with the advent of fame and fame, the appearance of Maria Callas changed. The woman made a real breakthrough and over a period of time turned from an ugly duckling into a truly beautiful swan. She went on a brutal diet, lost weight to incredible parameters, and became refined, elegant and incredibly well-groomed. Antique facial features sparkled with new colors, light appeared in them, which came from within and kindled millions of hearts around the world.
The singer's husband was not mistaken in his "calculations". He seemed to have foreseen that Maria Callas, whose photo was now in newspapers and magazines, is a diamond that simply needs to be cut and beautifully framed. Give it a little attention and it will shine with a magical light.
Maria lived a fast paced life. Rehearsals in the afternoon, performance in the evening. Callas had a talisman, without which she did not go on stage - a canvas with a biblical image donated by her husband. Success and recognition required constant titanic work. But she was happy, because she knew that she was not alone, she had a house where they were waiting for her.
Giovanni perfectly understood that his wife had to worry, and tried to somehow make her life easier and easier, trying to protect her from everything, even from maternal concerns. The couple had no children - Meneghini simply forbade Maria to give birth.
Maria Callas and Onassis
The marriage of Maria Callas and Giovanni Battista Meneghini lasted 10 years. And then a new man appeared in the life of the opera diva, the only beloved one. Only with him did she experience the whole gamut of feelings - love, crazy passion, humiliation and betrayal.
It was a Greek millionaire, the owner of "newspapers, factories and ships" Aristotle Onassis - a calculating man who did nothing without benefit for himself. He skillfully made his fortune during the Second World War by selling oil to countries participating in hostilities. At one time he married (not just like that, because of feelings, but with a financial perspective) to Tina Livanos, the daughter of a wealthy shipowner. In marriage, they had two children - a son and a daughter.
Aristotle was not a handsome man who immediately drove women to madness. He was an ordinary man, rather short in stature. Of course, it is difficult to say for sure whether he had real, sincere feelings for Maria Callas. This is known only to him and God, but the excitement, the hunter's instinct leaped in him - this is undoubtedly. Such adored by all Maria Callas, a young 35-year-old beautiful woman, well-groomed and beautiful looking. He wanted to become the owners of this trophy, so coveted ...
Divorce
They met in Venice at a ball. Some time later, the spouses Maria Callas and Giovanni Meneghini were kindly invited to the yacht of Onassis for an exciting cruise trip. The atmosphere on the yacht was unfamiliar to the opera diva: rich and famous people who idly spent their time in bars and at entertainment events; the gentle sun, sea air and generally the unusualness of the situation - all this plunged Maria Callas into the abyss of previously unknown feelings. She realized that besides concerts and constant work and rehearsals, there is another life. She fell in love. Fell in love and started an affair with Onassis in front of his wife and her own husband.
The Greek millionaire did his best to win Mary's heart. He behaved like her servant, trying to fulfill every whim.
Giovanni Battista noticed the changes that had occurred with his wife, and understood everything. And soon the entire public was aware of what was happening: Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, whose photos flaunted on the pages of the gossip, did not even think of hiding from prying eyes.
Battista was ready to forgive his wife for her betrayal and start all over again. He tried to reach out to the reason and common sense of Mary. But the woman did not need it. She told her husband that she loved another, and informed him of her intention to divorce.
New unhappy life
Parting with her husband did not bring Maria happiness. At first, a decline was outlined in her affairs, because there was no one else to deal with her performances and the organization of her concerts. The opera singer was like a little girl, helpless and abandoned by everyone.
In her personal life, everything was vague. Callas was waiting for the moment when the beloved would finally divorce his wife and marry her, but Aristotle was in no hurry to break family ties. He satisfied all his desires, pleasing the male ego and pride; proved to himself that he is able to conquer even the most proud goddess of opera, so desired by many. There was nothing to try now. The mistress gradually began to tire him. He paid her attention less and less, citing constant employment and business. Maria understood that the man she loved had other women, but she could not resist her feelings.
When Maria was a little over 40, fate gave her one last chance to become a mother. But Aristotle put the woman in front of a painful choice, and Callas could not turn herself around and abandon her beloved man.
Decline in work and betrayal of a loved one
Failures accompanied the diva not only in her personal life. Maria Callas's voice began to sound worse and gave her mistress more and more problems. The woman realized somewhere in the depths of her soul that higher powers were punishing her for her unrighteous lifestyle and for the fact that she had once betrayed her husband.
The woman went to see the world's best specialists, but no one could help her. Doctors made a helpless gesture, talking about the absence of any visible pathologies, hinting at the psychological component of the singer's problems. Arias performed by Maria Callas no longer caused a storm of emotions.
In 1960, Aristotle received a divorce, but never married his famous mistress. Maria waited for a marriage proposal from him for some time, and then she simply stopped hoping.
Life changed its color and hit the woman on the sickest. Maria's career did not develop at all, she performed less and less. She gradually began to be perceived not as an opera diva, but as the mistress of the wealthy Aristotle Onassis.
And soon the loved one stabbed in the back - he got married. But not on Mary, but on Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of the murdered president. It was a very profitable marriage, which opened the way for the ambitious Onassis to the world of the political elite.
Oblivion
A landmark in the fate and musical career of Maria Callas was her performance at La Scala with Paolina's part in Polievkta in 1960, which turned out to be a complete failure. The voice did not listen to the singer, and instead of a stream of mesmerizing sounds, an opera full of falseness fell upon the viewer. For the first time, Maria could not control herself. This was the beginning of the end.
Callas gradually left the stage. For some time, having settled in New York, Maria taught at a music school. She later moved to Paris. In France, she had experience of filming a movie, but he did not bring her either joy or satisfaction. The whole life of the singer Maria Callas was forever connected only with music.
She constantly yearned for her beloved. And then one day he confessed to her. The woman forgave her traitor. But the union did not work out for the second time. Onassis appeared at Maria's house rarely, from time to time, only when he himself wanted it. The woman knew that this man could not be changed, but she loved him exactly the way he was. In 1975, Aristotle Onassis passed away. In the same year, the opening of the International Music Competition for Opera and Piano Music, named after Maria Callas, took place in Athens.
After the death of a loved one, the woman lived for two more years. The biography of Maria Callas was cut short in Paris, in 1977. The opera diva passed away at the age of 53. The official cause of death is a heart attack, but there is another version of what happened: many believe that it was a murder. The ashes of the opera singer were scattered over the waters of the Aegean Sea.
Since 1977, the Maria Callas International Competition has become an annual event, and since 1994 the only prize has been awarded, the Maria Callas Grand Prix.