Maria Callas is one of the most outstanding opera singers of the XNUMXth century. Fans called her a "divine performer." She is among such opera reformers as Richard Wagner and Arturo Toscanini.
Maria Callas: Childhood and youth
The date of birth of the famous opera singer is December 2, 1923. She was born in New York City.
Maria did not become a long-awaited child. The birth of a girl was preceded by the death of a newborn boy. Heartbroken parents dreamed of a son. The mother, who carried a girl in the womb, even came up with a male name for the child.
After the birth of Mary, the mother refused to look in the direction of her daughter. The woman protected herself as much as possible from contact with Maria - she took the girl only to feed. After a while, she softened and finally accepted the child.
Parents quickly realized that they had a gifted girl. Maria almost from the cradle begins to be interested in musical instruments and the sound of classical music.
She loved arias and could sit for hours listening to musical works. At the age of five, Maria mastered playing the piano, and after a few years she began to perform arias. At the age of 10, her first performance took place. Maria made the most pleasant impression on the audience.
From the moment of birth, the girl was under pressure from her mother. She tried to be the first in everything - Callas seemed to prove that she was worthy of parental love.
Maria Callas: Music Competitions
As a teenager, Maria took part in a rating radio show. Some time later, she appeared in a music competition, which was held in Chicago.
The constant demands of the mother - hurt the girl. Maria was in loading condition. Despite external attractiveness and obvious talent, she considered herself an "ugly duckling". Victories in competitions inspired the opera singer. On the days of victory, she rejoiced, and on the rest she again pursued maternal attention and recognition.
Maria seemed to prove her own importance to herself. Childhood trauma remained with Callas for life. She will always look for flaws in herself, consider herself fat and ugly. As an adult, she will say: “I am the most insecure person in the world. I'm scared and scared of everything."
At the age of 13, Maria, together with her mother, moved to Athens. Mom attached her daughter to the Royal Conservatory. From this moment begins a completely different part of the biography of the "divine" Maria Callas.
The creative path of an opera singer
She attended the conservatory with pleasure and graduated with honors at the age of 16. Since that time, she separated from her mother, and began to lead an independent life. Maria earned her living by singing. At the age of 19, she performed the first part in the opera Tosca. For the performance, she received an impressive amount of money at that time - $ 65.
In the mid-40s of the last century, Maria moved to New York. She visited her father's house and was upset that he had remarried. The stepmother categorically did not like the singing of the stepdaughter.
During this period of time, she is casting in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. At the end of the 40s, she signed a contract to perform in Verona. The first performances and the charming voice of Maria made the right impression on the audience. She received an offer from leading theater directors.
Italy is a second home for Mary. She was adored by the local public, here she finally got stronger financially and met a loving husband. She regularly received lucrative offers. Photos of women were decorated with magazines and posters.
At the end of the 40s, she performed in Argentina, in 1950 - in Mexico City. Moving and heavy workload negatively affected the state of the opera diva. Mary's health was deteriorating - she began to rapidly gain weight. Soon it became more and more difficult for her to perform on stage, and even more so touring. She ate her problems and became addicted to her habits.
Work at the La Scala Opera House
Returning to Italy, she made her debut at La Scala. The opera singer got "Aida". Then her talent was recognized at the highest level. But, Maria did not believe the words of authoritative music critics. The grown woman always returned to the fact that she was not worthy of praise. In the 51st year, she became part of the La Scala troupe, but even this did not increase her self-esteem.
A year later, she performs "Norma" at the Royal Opera (London). After some time, she was noted in "Medea" in the Italian theater. The sensual performance of a piece of music, which until that time was considered absolutely not trendy, comes back to life and becomes an absolute hit among classical music lovers.
She was followed by success. Maria became a real opera diva. Despite the confessions of millions of people, she suffered from depression. The opera singer frankly did not love herself. She tried to lose weight, but dietary restrictions caused only one thing - another nervous breakdown, too many calories and apathy. Soon she was consumed by nervous exhaustion.
She couldn't perform the way she used to. One by one, Maria canceled performances. Journalists who did not even know about the state of mind of the opera diva wrote articles in which they accused the singer of being overly spoiled. Cancellations of performances led to litigation. In the 60s, the opera diva appeared on stage several times. In the mid-60s, she performed the opera part of Norma, the capital of France.
Details of the personal life of Maria Callas
Giovanni Battista Meneghini is the first man who managed to win the heart of a charming beauty. Maria met a young man in colorful Italy. The man adored classical music, and he loved operas performed by Callas - Giovanni doubly.
Meneghini supported the opera diva in everything - he became her support and support. Giovanni became for Maria not only a spouse, but also a lover, manager, best friend. The man was much older than the singer.
At the end of the 40s, they got married in a Catholic church. The husband did not have a soul in a woman, but she treated him consumerly. Soon after the wedding, Mary's feelings began to fade. She used Meneghini for mortal purposes.
At the end of the 50s, Callas met Aristotle Onassis. He was quite a wealthy shipowner and one of the wealthiest businessmen in Greece. When Maria suffered nervous exhaustion, the doctors recommended the woman to live by the sea for some time. She went to Greece, where she secretly began dating Onassis.
A passionate relationship began between the billionaire and the opera diva. He stole her heart. In one of the interviews, Maria said that during meetings with Onassis, her feelings were so overwhelmed that she could not breathe.
Moving to Paris Maria Callas
Soon Maria moves to Paris to be closer to her new lover. The billionaire left his wife and was ready to marry Callas. But the wedding in the Catholic Church did not allow Mary to break off the previous marriage. Maria's husband, Giovanni, also made every effort to ensure that the divorce did not take place.
In the mid-60s, Callas found out that she was expecting a child from a new lover. She was elated and happy. Maria hurried to inform Onassis of her pregnancy, but in response she heard the word "abortion". She got rid of the child so as not to lose the man. Later, she will say that she will regret this decision until the end of her days.
Relations between lovers began to deteriorate. Maria did everything to save the relationship. Aristotle lost interest in women. In the late 60s they broke up. Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy. The opera diva, after parting, did not find female happiness.
Interesting facts about Maria Callas
- Rumors and conjectures circulated around the death of the opera diva for a long time. Rumor has it that she was poisoned by a close friend.
- She loved confectionery - cakes and puddings. She had to lose weight to get the role she dreamed of. In a year, Maria lost 30 kilograms. The secret to success is simple - the intake of vegetables and protein foods.
- When Kallas hosted parties at home, she herself compiled the menu, and her personal chef prepared for her and the guests.
- The last months of her life, Maria did not maintain contact with the outside world. Charming poodles became a consolation for the diva.
- For the sake of the roles, she had to not only lose weight, but also gain weight. Once her weight reached the limit of 90 kilograms.
- She requested that her ashes be cremated. It was scattered over the Aegean Sea.
Death of Maria Callas
In the last months of her life, Maria felt frankly depressed. The loss of a beloved man, the decline of a musical career, the loss of attractiveness - they repulsed the desire to live in Kallas. She refused to communicate with loved ones and did not go on stage.
She passed away in 1977. The cause of death was a heart attack caused by dermatomyositis.
