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Maria Callas

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Maria Callas was born on December 2, 1923 in Washington Heights, a part of New York City. She was the daughter of the Greek immigrants George Kalogeropoulos and Evagelina Dimitriadis. Her father came from Peloponese, and he changed the family name to Callas in 1929 when he opened a pharmacy. In 1937, Maria went to Athens with her mother and sister after her parents divorced.

Her first public performance was in November 1938 when she was 15 years old. The performance, in the "Cavalleria rusticana", took place in Athens when she was still studying under Maria Trivella at the conservatory. She studied voice with Elvira de Hidalgo starting in 1938, also at the conservatory in Athens. In 1948, she married the Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Battista Meneghini and became italian citizen.

Callas was brilliant in many roles. Among her most famous interpretations of roles are Cherubini's Medea, Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata", and Bellini's "Norma". Her special talent was in rediscovering and reviving the belcanto operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini. One of her favourite teacher and conductor was Tullio Serafin.

The effect of her performances can be experienced in numerous studio and live recordings. Singing perfection is not in the foreground, but rather her extraordinary musicality; her special treatment of the words and music; the power of her performance; and her ability to transform herself.

Maria Callas died of heart faillure on September 16, 1977, in Paris.

Records by this artist at DIVOX

Massenet Jules | Spontini Gaspare | Bellini Vincenzo | Saint-Saëns Camille | …

MON CŒUR | 283 paintings by Jutta Bosch on 9 Arias sung by Maria Callas | a limited Edition of 1000 numbered copies | DVD Art Video

Juttta Bosch | Maria Callas