Monday, January 25, 2016

Maria Callas

ABC Wednesday
January 27th, 2016

The letter is C for Maria CALLAS
A superb Coloratura









Maria Callas was born in New York in 1923, of Greek parentage

Her parents separated when she was 14 and she returned to Greece with her mother.  

She had won some acceptance as a singer in America and almost immediately became a pupil of  Maria Trivella.  Maria gained great renown as an Operatic singer, as well as a reputation for being extremely tempestuous and stormy.

In 1949 she married Giovanni Batlista Managhina, a wealthy industrialist and follower of the opera, who took over management of her career.

When in later years she met Aristotle Onassis she left her husband, expecting to marry Onassis.



He, however, married Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria completely devastated.

Her voice failed her, and her health.  In 1977 she died at the age of 53 of a heart attack, 

leaving behind a grand opera legend and a turbulent and tragic image.

Maria Callas singing the Gounod-Bach Ave Maria

I listen to it with prickly eyes.....


For more Cs click here at ABC Wednesday
and see what Roger, Denise and all their helpers
have to offer...
with many thanks.

13 comments:

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I must shamefully admit that I know the name, the face and even the tempestuous reputation much better than I know the voice. Thank you for putting that right, a wonderful singer indeed.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely to hear that voice again Hildred - I must say that you can hear the sadness in her voice.

Reader Wil said...

Thanks for this treat! Great choice for C!
This music is so wonderful!
Wil, ABCW Team

MelodyK said...

Wow this is a treat, what a great choice for this weeks letter !!

Have a nice abc-day / - week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)

Photo Cache said...

Lovely choice for C.
My ABC WEDNESDAY

Leslie: said...

A beautiful woman - she reminds me of George Clooney's new wife Amal. What a shame she died so young.

Leslie
abcw team

ellen b. said...

Such interesting and tragic history. That is very young to die...

photowannabe said...

Such a talent and such a sad, tragic ending.

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

I did not know her history, but have always loved her voice. Thank you for bringing it to us, today!

Janis
GDP

fredamans said...

What a tragic ending.

LindyLouMac said...

A lovely post for ABC Wednesday.

Roger Owen Green said...

Yes, I forgot her tragic ending.
ROG, ABCW

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

It is too bad that her talent for music did not extend to a talent for making good life decisions. So sad, such a waste of a beautiful talent.