瑪麗亞‧卡拉絲 / 聖潔的女神, 歌劇(瓦莉姑娘) Maria Callas / Casta Diva, La Wally

瑪麗亞‧卡拉絲 / 諾爾瑪-聖潔的女神 / 托斯卡 / 阿伊達 / 夢遊女 / 歌劇(瓦莉姑娘)等著名詠嘆調

Anna Maria Sophia Cecilia Kaloyeropoúlou was born on December 2, 1923 in New York. Good student,
intelligent, hardworking, quick-witted, she describes herself as follows: "I was an ugly duckling, fat,
clumsy and unloved. It is cruel for a child to feel that he is ugly and unwanted ". She discovers music
through popular tunes like La Paloma, broadcast on the radio. She takes a few piano lessons and
reveals out her singing talents at the age of 8. "When I sang, I felt that I was truly loved. [...] So singing
has gradually become the cure for my inferiority complex". In college she is nicknamed The Girl with
the Golden Voice: "I was the little singer of the school. I sang operettas, I played a Chinese prince, a
sailor, and other roles like that ". In 1937, Maria emigrates to Athens and enrolls at the Conservatory.
Her teacher, Maria Trivella, will remember: "Her voice had a warm, lyrical, intense timbre that was
spinning, shining brightly, filling the air with melodious echoes, crystalline, like a carillon. She was,
from many points of view, astonishing. A future great talent that had to be controlled, coached,
disciplined to come out with all its brilliance. "[...]" A model student, fanatic, demanding with herself,
devoted to her studies body and soul. Her progress was phenomenal. She worked five to six hours
a day ... In six months, she was able to sing the most difficult arias in the repertoire ". Considered
a gifted person, in 1939 she joins Elvira de Hidalgo's class. Maria makes her professional debut on
January 21, 1941 in Boccaccio by Franz von Suppe. On August 27, 1942, she dresses for the first time
Tosca's costume. Professional critics are beginning to notice her: "Extremely dynamic artist with the
rarest lyrical and musical gifts [...] In her exceptional voice of natural fluidity, I do not wish to add
words other than those of Alexandra Lalaouni: Kaloyeropoúlou is one of those talents blessed by
the Gods which we can only marvel". In October 1944, she will have performed twenty recitals and
appeared 56 times in seven different operas. On September 14, 1945, she returns to the United
States. In June 1947, Tullio Serafin entrusts to her the role of Gioconda by Ponchielli: "She was so
amazing, so imposing physically and morally, so certain of her future. I knew that this girl, in an openair
theater like Verona, with her powerful voice and her courage, would make an amazing impact".
Maria becomes definitely "La Callas". She will say of Tullio: "He taught me the deep meaning
of music, the justification of music. I really, really absorbed everything I could from this man [...] He
was the luck of my life". From January 1948, her performances in Turandot are the occasion of a craze
that opens her the doors of the most prestigious theaters. Her over-activity does not affect her voice,
which she puts to the test. On June 10, 1952, a performance of Lucia di Lammermoor in Mexico City, is
the occasion of a 20-minutes standing ovation and 16 encores, which constitutes an absolute record!
At the beginning of 1961, she settles permanently in Paris. Her public appearances become more and
more exceptional. From 1947 to 1965 she will have ensured 595 performances, played 42 roles and
recorded 26 operas. She sings for the last time on November 11, 1974 in Sapporo, Japan. She retires
to her Paris apartment. After a suicide attempt, Maria locks herself in solitude. Abusing sleeping pills
and barbiturates, she dies of pulmonary embolism on September 19, 1977.