Maria Callas: It was 45 years ago today
OperaMaria Callas died in her Paris apartment of a heart attack on September 16, 1977. She was 53 years old and had retired from the opera stage a dozen years earlier.
The greatest dramatic soprano of the 20th century had talked shortly before her death of writing an autobiography.
Instead, she became enveloped in myth and legend, in bestselling books and films.
If Callas had a signature song, it was this.
I think I prefer myth and legend over an autobiography. Legends endure; autobiographies are remaindered.
Mme. Callas may have had a greater sense of legacy than even she was aware. Instead of a mere star, she became a goddess to many.
“The greatest dramatic soprano of the 20th century”…. and so far, of the 21st.
Couldn’t sing a note in-tune! Never understood the fuss.
There is something wrong with you.
No. Just another troll looking for attention. See, there you have your attention.
People might not like her voice, but her pitch and tempo was as perfect as opera stage singers can do.
Madame will be remembered for ever.A Diva sparkling evervecence in every way.Her Tosca,no flaws in the glass.
God-awful singer. Almost unlistenable to at times, with those flappy high notes and inability to sing in a manner which was not nasal. She could sour the milk directly in the udder.
For those of us who did hear her live (and I most certainly did), the hype did not meet expectations. It was a far smaller voice than one would have imagined, plus for much of her career she was decidedly more off than on. Her vocal production was often a mess and her screeching theatrics were fine in the 50s and early 60s, but today would be considered hammier than a rack of bacon.
The Callas widows and those with dubious taste who equate personal tragedy with greatness will never think otherwise. But quite frankly I’ve heard dogs with better intonation.
I never quite understood such incoherence of music but, now I understand what a deaf dog hears.