Birth Data
|
| Birth Name: |
Kalogeropoulos, Sophie Cecelia |
| Birth Date: |
12/2/1923 (Dec 2,
1923) |
| Birth Time: |
07:07 (7:07 AM) EST
(+5:00) |
| Birth Place: |
New York, NY |
| Latitude /
Longitude: |
40 N 43 / 74 W
00 |
| Rodden Rating /
Source: |
A / From memory |
| Source Notes: |
B.C. in hand from William Henry, 7/1995 with no birth time. Same
information quoted by Ann Parker from the biography by Nadia
Stanciott "Maria Callas Remembered," E.P. Dutton, 1987,
p.44, "Sophie Cecelia Kalos, apparently shortened by a member
of the staff of Manhattan's 5th Ave hospital from her full name,
Kalogeropoulos. Even the mother's maiden name, Evangelia Demetroadis
had been shorted to Demos and her more familiar first name, Litza."
The time comes from her mom's quote of "dawn." Over the
years, various quotes have been given as "from her" or
"from the family," for times ranging before and after
daybreak. Luis Ortet writes, October 2000, "According to French
astrologer Andre Barbault, when Callas ordered her horoscope at
"Astroflash" in Paris, she wrote that she was born at 6
AM, given in "Astralites des Femmes Ilustres," Editions du
Rocher, 1998, pp 316.
|
|
Biography
Greek opera singer, noted for her glorious voice, stirring acting
ability, and explosive temperament, a slender, chic superstar with a
volcanic temper. Her performance in Bellini's "Norma," Verdi's
"La Traviata," and Puccini's "Tosca" were
outstandingly memorable. In her prime, she was the world's most celebrated
diva, a legend in her own time.
Callas was born in Manhattan to Greek immigrant parents who changed the
family name from Kalogeropoulos to Callas when her father opened a
drugstore in the borough. The girl began singing at a young age in order
to please her almost pathologically ambitious mother. In 1929, they lost
the store during the depression. Her parents separated in 1937 and Maria
and her older sister, Iakinthy, moved with their mother to her homeland.
Maria began voice study in Athens, living in Greece during WW II. There,
the talented teenager made her professional debut in 1941 in the small
role of Beatrice in Suppe's "Boccaccio."
In 1950, her debut at La Scala, the famous Milanese opera house, was a
triumph, although she was tall and overweight, with acne, nervously biting
her fingernails. After her appearances at the Florence May Festival in
1951, she was opera's most talked-of figure. By 1954 she had slimmed down
from 200 lbs. to 130 lbs., with an American debut that same year. Callas
rehearsed tirelessly, singing everything whether it fit her voice or not.
Her versatile soprano may have been flawed by occasional chancy pitch but
none matched her for impact. Temperamental, she was known for endless
cancellations and walkouts.
In 1947, she met an older entrepreneur, Giovanni Meneghini, 32 years
her senior. Despite the opposition of both families, they wed on 4/21/1949
in Verona, with no family members in attendance. With his wealth and
experience, Menighini transformed her into a glamorous star. Since Callas
was prone to fragile health, he would not let her bear children, thinking
it might harm her physical well-being as well as her career.
The marriage began its demise when they took a cruise on the Christina
in the summer of 1959. Callas met Aristotle Onassis on the great ship,
which Onassis owned. She vented her anger on her husband, while taking
long walks with Onassis, growing closer to him. They began an affair and
Callas became pregnant (a fact which did not become public until an
enterprising biographer published his book in October 2000). She concealed
her pregnancy and delivered a boy, named Omero Lengrini, by C-section
prematurely on 3/30/1960, 8:00 AM MET, Milan (B.C. in hand from Grazia
Bordoni); the child lived for two hours. She and Onassis continued their
liaison and discussed the possibility of marriage in 1966.
She had a stunning collection of jewels from Onassis, one of the
world's wealthiest lovers. In 1968 she lost him to Jacqueline Kennedy, but
a short time later they resumed their alliance, which continued until his
death in Paris, 3/15/1975. Callas seldom performed after 1960. Her last
years were lonely, rejecting Menighini's offer of reconciliation in 1975.
She died of a heart attack at her Paris home 9/16/1977.
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