The Importance of Maria Callas
For non-operaphiles who cannot imagine that the twitterings of a soprano could ever be as important as the revolutionary rock of The Beatles, some history is in order. Maria Callas (1923–1977) was, arguably, the most important and controversial operatic soprano of the 20th century. Her voice was/is like no other on record: deep and soul-shaking on bottom, somewhat occluded but increasingly fiery as it ascends the scale, and emotionally and viscerally searing on top.
Anything but conventionally beautiful, Callas' instrument was commanded by a supreme intellect to convey a huge range of character and emotions, from fragile, little girl victimhood to vindictive, cold-blooded murderess. Hers was a voice that not only sounded ideal for blood-and-guts of verismo and heart-rending drama of Verdi, but also ascended into the coloratura stratosphere with an agility, technical aplomb, and emotional conviction previously unheard from lighter voiced sopranos who, at their worst, delivered mono-dimensional, cookie-cutter characterizations.
Thanks to Callas and her conductor/mentor, Tulio Serafin, a host of previously ignored or under-performed 19th century bel canto operas returned to the repertoire. Callas performed these, not just with technical accuracy, but also with a level of emotional and theatrical commitment that transformed what had previously been considered lovely vocalizations into deeply moving works of art. Her musical revelations have influenced all subsequent performances of bel canto repertoire, and made possible today's ongoing exploration of forgotten gems.
But Callas was far more than a consummate singing actress. She was also a media sensation. Part of the public and media fascination with Callas revolved around the voice itself, which one critic described as unique in its ability to emit tones of pure hatred. Yet another factor was her phenomenal transformation from a woman of well over 200 lbs. into a svelte beauty with some of the most arresting eyes and gestures ever seen on the operatic stage.
Many learned of Callas through international coverage of her escalating series of operatic and personal scandals. Although she was controversial from the start of her professional career, she first drew the attention of media and masses with a flap at Chicago Lyric Opera that left her dubbed the "tigress." Once she became a target of media locked into a post-McCarthy era witch-hunt mentality, Callas was forever hounded by the press.
A 1956 Time magazine cover story that focused, among other things, on her unfortunate relationship with her mother did not help matters. Nor did her behavior, especially her 1958 opening-night La Scala walkout on a bejeweled audience that included the President of Italy. If you want to see Callas skewered on national television for her behavior, check out her live interview with Edward R. Murrow, which goes along quite personably until Murrow begins to turn the screws.
It was not long after the Murrow escapade that Callas wrote her own defense in Life magazine. Then came her fated 1959 yacht cruise with Winston Churchill, during which she ditched her much older husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, for billionaire shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Once Callas' singing career was over, Onassis ditched her for Jackie Kennedy. And on it went. Wikipedia documents a lot of it.
If, on one level, Callas' life story reads as material for a Grade B soap opera, the quality of her singing transforms the tale into a major tragedy. By 1965, when a not yet 42-year old Callas left the Covent Garden stage after Act I of Tosca, her singing career was basically over. What followed, both on and off the stage, was the denouement.
When all is said and done, it is Callas' voice and artistry that matter. Save for a few videos of later performances, most notably the astounding Act II Tosca from Covent Garden in 1964, you can appreciate her best in Warner's new digital remasterings. If you can afford them, the 24/96 downloads of the 26 operas and 13 recital albums in the set are the way to go. Neither the CDs or less expensive but ultimately compromised "Mastered for iTunes" downloads can possibly compare.
