"La Divina", "the Bible of opera", "the definition of the diva as artist".
It's the centenary today of the most-lauded operatic soprano of the 20th century, Maria Callas!
Here she is, at her utmost peak of her powers...
Perfection.
Maria Callas (born Maria Anna Cecilia Sofia Kalogeropoulos, 2nd December 1923 – 16th September 1977)
[More Callas here, and at the label at the foot of this post, of course.]
I wonder why she didn't keep her birth name. Very catchy.
ReplyDeleteTrips off the tongue... Jx
DeleteWatta set of pipes.
ReplyDeleteAnd heavens! Couldn't she play them?! Jx
DeleteA true Diva. One of the great voices of the centuary and such a sad tragic life.
ReplyDelete'La Divina' - both her voice and the way she was treated break my heart.
Onassis was a grade A bastard, wasn't he? Strange, however, that they remained friends in the end... Jx
DeleteAnd in that scene, Maria was only asking someone to turn up the thermostat because it's a bit nippy for an off-the-shoulder number. I'm always amazed at how much depth and emotion she can instill in the most humdrum, everyday thing.
ReplyDeleteHa! Very French & Saunders... Jx
DeleteMaria Callas, la grand voix au firmament et au tempérament grecs.
ReplyDeleteDiva non seulement d'excellence dans la voix mais aussi d'émotion et de présence scénique. Diva Callas de la personnalité magnétique.
* d'Anjou
I imagine her "Greek temperament" was both a blessing and a curse! Jx
Delete