The opera singer’s life was marked by winning acclaim and sordid controversies.
Bettmann/Getty; Daniele Venturelli/Getty
All great divas deserve to have their stories told.
Certainly, thats one takeaway fromPablo Larrain’s new Maria Callas biopic,Maria.
Credit:Bettmann/Getty; Daniele Venturelli/Getty
Its the final installment in Larrains unofficial trilogy profiling powerful and misunderstood women in history.
Both films generated Oscar nominations for Best Actress, and Jolie may be primed to follow in their footsteps.
It’s a remarkable portrait of a woman reckoning with herself, even as her body fails her."
Maria Callas; Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’.ullstein bild via Getty; Pablo Larraín/Netflix
But who was the real woman behind the biopic?
Here’s the true story of Maria Callas' life.
Who was Maria Callas and how did she begin performing?
Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larrain on the set of ‘Maria’.Pablo Larraín/Netflix
ullstein bild via Getty; Pablo Larrain/Netflix
Callas was one of the most acclaimed opera singers of all time.
By all accounts, her mother was cold, having desired a son instead of a daughter.
Soon after, Callas was mentored by Elvira de Hidalgo, a celebrated soprano singer at the Athens Conservatory.
Angelina Jolie, Maria Callas.Robin Marchant/Getty; Corbis via Getty
She appeared in several other celebrated productions during this time, earning round-the-board raves for her singular voice.
What did Maria Callas do after she left Greece?
Callas may have lived in America, but she didnt spend much time there.
But her success couldn’t last forever.
How did Maria Callas lose her voice?
During the peak of her fame in the 1960s, Callas began experiencing issues with her voice.
It’s possible that her exacting technique was to blame.
“She tamed and slimmed her voice down to the point that it was counterproductive.
Weight loss may have also been a factor.
Between 1953 and 1954, Callas lost nearly 80 pounds.
It explains the loss of her singing voice and cut her career short, Spence told History.
What happened in the later stages of Maria Callas singing career?
Was Maria Callas really in a love triangle with Jackie Kennedy?
Though Callas was now single, Onassis was not.
He married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968, who was later the subject ofLarrains 2016 filmJackie.
But Callas and Onassis continued seeing each other even after he wed Jackie O. Thats why they never believed that they could be separate.
What did Maria Callas do after she stopped performing opera?
As Callas and Stefano were far past their vocal peak, the performances were marred by difficulties.
However, audiences flocked out in droves to see the legends, and each show was sold out.
Still,The New Yorkercalled the duos tour disastrous.
How did Maria Callas spend the final years of her life?
Robin Marchant/Getty; Corbis via Getty
Callas died in Paris in 1977 at age 53.
Her cause of death was officially listed as a heart attack, but there are other theories.
She was quickly cremated, and no autopsy was performed.
Nevertheless, Callas maintains a towering reputation not just among opera singers but all kinds of artists.
Her immense devotion to perfecting her craft has inspired innumerable creatives across all art forms.
Mariais now streaming on Netflix.
