Maria Callas

In the course of her meteoric career, Maria Callas managed to rewrite the rules of operatic singing, combining a unique, compelling tone with a staggering vocal technique and an uncanny ability to embody the tragic characters she played. Her ability to rise to every demand that composers such as Bellini and Donizetti placed on the voice kick-started the revival of their forgotten scores, and her work with producers such as Luchino Visconti brought a new commitment to dramatic values in the opera house. A glamorous appearance and lifestyle combined with much-publicized cancellations and rows generated a media frenzy and made Callas the epitome of the operatic diva.