Callas, Maria

Callas, Maria

Maria Callas, Commendatore OMRI (December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic gifts. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini; further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina. Born in New York City and raised by an overbearing mother, she received her musical education in Greece and established her career in Italy. Forced to deal with the exigencies of wartime poverty and with myopia that left her nearly blind onstage, she endured struggles and scandal over the course of her career. Her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her “The Bible of opera”; and her influence was 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 artist—and still one of classical music’s best-selling vocalists.”

  • Maria Callas (2CDs)

    Maria Callas

    MP3 Album:
    CHERUBINI Medea MEDEA: Maria Callas GIASONE: Jon Vickers NERIS: Fiorenza Cossotto CREONTE: Nicola Zaccaria GLAUCE: Joan Carlyle FIRST MAIDSERVANT: Mary Wells SECOND MAIDSERVANT: Elizabeth Rust CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: David Allen The Covent Garden Opera Chorus & Orchestra Nicola Rescigno ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, 30 JUNE 1959
  • Maria Callas (2CDs)

    Maria Callas

    MP3 Album:
    Verdi: La Traviata Maria Callas / Cesare Valletti / Mario Zanasi / Marie Collier Forbes Robinson / Ronald Lewis / David Kelly Royal Opera House Orchestra & Chorus / Nicola Rescigno, conductor (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 20 June 1958)

Maria Callas, Commendatore OMRI (December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic gifts. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini; further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina. Born in New York City and raised by an overbearing mother, she received her musical education in Greece and established her career in Italy. Forced to deal with the exigencies of wartime poverty and with myopia that left her nearly blind onstage, she endured struggles and scandal over the course of her career. Her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her “The Bible of opera”; and her influence was 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 artist—and still one of classical music’s best-selling vocalists.”