Callas: a Career in Tears, 1947-1965.
by George Fleeton
The professional opera singing career of Maria Callas (1923-77), whose elegance and grace in performance is still the standard by which all other divas and prima donnas are measured, lasted barely eighteen years, one third of her life span. Yet her iconic status went far beyond her performing career, into the dolce vita life style of Europe in the late 50s and early 60s, and her influence today on opera, how it is produced and appreciated, is beyond measure.
On Monday May 23rd, in Queen’s University, my half-day workshop on Callas’ career will explore the personal pain and heartbreak which suffused the roles she chose to sing on stage and in the recording studio, and all will be extensively illustrated with rare film and video of Callas in performance and in interview.
The workshop is open to everyone and runs from 1.00pm to 5.30pm. The fee is £17 and full details for enrolment are available from 028 9097 3323, and on www.qub.ac.uk/edu/ol . The textbook I am recommending is ‘Maria Callas: A Musical Biography’, by Robert Levine, published by Black Dog & Leventhal of New York.  The workshop is a celebration of a truly exceptional career which was both underscored by, and ended in, tears.
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