A golden statue portraying the late soprano Maria Callas was erected under the Acropolis and close to the Roman theatre of Herodes Atticus. There Maria Callas, at the height of her career, performed for the Greek audience in 1957. It was her first visit to Athens as an international opera star.
Her artistry and voice unequivocally changed the Opera from one day to the other. Just like Tosca singing “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore”(“I lived for my art, I lived for love”), she had a tragic life dying of a broken heart following the death of Aristotle Onassis.
Born in New York in 1923, Maria Cecilia Kalogeropoulos was born to Greek immigrant parents. Maria, whose pharmacist father shortened the surname for Callas, showed her musical genius from a very young age. She would sit next to the radio, criticising and pointing out the mistakes the singer would make. Before WWII, Maria returned to Greece with her mother and sister after her parents’ divorce. Her father remained in the US. Upon their return, Maria and her sister enrolled in the National Conservatory. She studied under the World-renowned soprano, Elvira de Hidalgo, graduating at 17. Maria Callas debuted in the National Opera in 1941 and started getting all the attention a soprano could get. She debuted in the role of Tosca a bit later. Her marriage to Meneghini changed her life and career as he was also her manager. Her tumultuous affair with the shipman Aristotle Onassis gave her glimpses of happiness. However, he broke up with her and married Jackie Kennedy, the wife of the late US President. Onassis died in 1975, and she was isolated following his death in her apartment in Paris, resulting in her passing two years later.
Following her death, the Maria Callas Association has established a Conservatoire named the Atheneum “Maria Callas”. Anyone can find it not far from the roman open theatre in the old Athenian centre, which is always participating in all sorts of festivals, including International Music Day. The Greek National Opera is also hosting the Maria Callas Grand Prix, a prestigious International Operatic competition.
This year’s inauguration of the statue is in honour of leading to the 2023 centennial celebrations. However, it is intensely criticised in the press and social media as it doesn’t seem to resemble “La Divina”. The Guardian wrote that it looked like Gandhi in heels. These comments alone have contributed to the cancellation of Professor Liti’s nomination of Professor Emeritus. It seems that even though 40 years have passed after her death her fellow Greeks are still aware of her contribution to Opera, hoping to see the centennial celebrations honouring “La Divina” anxiously.