Maria Kallas

e-Twinning

2019-2020

Maria Callas 1923-1977

The most important opera singer in the world

3rd Primary School of Pallini

Georgia & Dimitra - 6th Graders

Leaving for America

05

01

Born and Family

06

Love of her life

02

Maria's Childhood

07

The years of decline

03

First Role

08

Come back

04

Building a career in Greece

Born and Family

Maria Callas was born on December 2, 1923 in New York and passed away on September 16, 1977 in France. Her parents were pharmacist George Kalogeropoulos from Meligala Messinia and Evangelia Dimitriadis from Stylida Fthiotida.

Marias' childhood

She started studying music when she was 11 years, taking piano and solo lessons, winning first prize in a children's vocal competition. In 1937 she moved with her mother and sister to Athens, where her parents got a divorce.

First Role

Her first role was in the Musical Opera "Cavaleria Rusticana" by Sanducca in a performance by the students of the Conservatory. In 1939 she joined the Athens Conservatory in the song class of the famous Elvira de Indigo (an important opera singer at the beginning of the 20th century), where she became acquainted with the high technique of the roles of the Italian romantic repertoire.

Builing a career in Greece

In 1940 she was hired on the Opera Stage of the then Royal Theater and in 1941 she first appeared as "Beatrice" in the opera Vokkakios of Soupe. Then, and until 1945, she starred in Toka (1942, 1943), Campo d'Alberto (1944, 1945), Cavalieria Rusticana (1944), Manolis Kalomiris' Protomaster (1944, the only Greek work he sang), in Fidelio Beethoven (1944) and the operetta The Zytanos Student by Viennese composer Carl Mileker (1945).

Back to America

In September 1945 she returned to America, where her father lived, to further her international career, changing her surname to Kallas. Although she was unemployed until 1947, she did not disappointed , and after a successful hearing she was assigned to sing "Jococonda" at the homonymous opera of Amilcarare Ponquielli in the Arena of Verona, one of Italy's most important operas. Although slipping in the general test and stroking her ankle, she was able to successfully make the first major step of her career on August 2, 1947.

the love of her life

Arisrotelis Onassis

In 1959 at Covent Garden, London, Callas met Aristotle Onassis, the greatest but unfulfilled love of her life. Unfortunately, Onassis married Jackie Kennedy, leaving Callas in deep frustration and sadness.

The years of decline

Her appearances since 1960 have begun to dilute. In the summer of 1960 she sang Norma at Epidaurus and the following year at the same place Medea. This performance was also transferred to the Scala in Milan from 1961-1962. Nevertheless, her career in Italian theaters had ended. In 1962, Weber Oberon sang in London, and The Times wrote, "Now her voice can be described as ugly and out of tune," but the audience continued to tune in..

Maria Callas in Epidaurus

the come back

She makes great efforts to overcome her personal problems by recouping her artistic activity. She plays the Euripides' Medea cinema, directed by Pierre-Paulo Pasolini (1969), records discs, teaches opera at New York's Giulia School of Music, and gives a recital with his old friend Tiziou was experiencing voice problems. Her last appearance was in Sapporo, Japan on December 11, 1974.

The end

Maria Callas has been isolated in her Paris apartment. The Great Diva passed away on the morning of September 16, 1977, at the age of 54.

Thank you

Georgia and Dimitra