Memorabilia -> Opera Memorabilia
Maria Callas may be the best known female opera singer of our time. While Pavarotti is an internationally recognized name, Callas was the soprano whom most people had heard of. She was an American-born singer of Greek descent who came to be called La Divina by the opera-going community.
She was born in New York in 1923 but the family soon moved to Greece, where she received her musical education. Then she moved to Italy and established herself as a singer of note. Early in her career she was a full-figured woman, as many successful operatic singers are, but mid-career she shed 80 pounds and was often hailed as one of the most beautiful women to ever grace opera’s stage. Maria Callas also had extreme myopia, requiring thick glasses which of course couldn’t be worn on the opera stage, so she was essentially blind throughout many of her early performances.
Maria Callas often had to endure gossip in the press that sometimes seemed to overshadow the achievements of her career, including tales of her rivalry with singer Renata Tebaldi and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. When her voice began to decline, the press was not kind to her, but many fans and critics still hail her as the original diva, and the voice that defined opera.
Her official debut on the professional stage was in 1942, and very quickly critics began to take note of her voice. Even those who critically panned her could not deny that if nothing else, her voice was instantly recognizable. She was a mezzo-soprano with a range of three full octaves. Her tendency to start with the lower registers and sing them richly was often blamed for the later decline of her voice, with her having difficulty hitting the highest notes and maintaining them. Maria Callas was only 53 when she died in 1977 of a heart attack.
For those interested in Maria Callas collectibles, her recordings, particularly those on large record albums, are good items to collect, though if you’re looking for items of hers purely for listening enjoyment the remastered CDs of her performances will be the items you’ll want to purchase.
You can find books about Maria Callas, as well as recordings and other items in most online bookstores and in the larger chain bookstores. Other popular items like ticket stubs from her performances and even signed photographs can be found by looking in places like shops that deal in autographs, and online auctions like those at eBay.com
The biggest drawback to looking for Maria Callas items, particularly signed ones, at places like eBay is that you can’t be sure if the autograph is genuine. Be sure to investigate by finding known examples of her autograph online in several places, then examine the autograph on the item you’re wanting to purchase carefully to see if it’s close enough to have been written by her, without looking too perfectly exact. If it’s exact, it’s just as likely to be a fake as if it looks wildly different.
Originally posted 2008-12-10 14:00:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Ballet Posters Memorabilia -> Music Memorabilia -> Classical, Opera, Ballet-> Posters For a budding ballerina, there is nothing quite like the inspiration that can come from looking at a ballet poster. These works of art inspire, and for collectors, they are a way of enjoying and expressing a love for this amazing...... -
Rock and Roll Concert Memorabilia Collecting One of the types of collections that is gaining in popularity right now is collecting concert memorabilia. This is because every band seems to be going on tour these days, and in their wake they are all leaving plenty of autographed concert memorabilia for collectors to snap up, stuff into...... -
Collecting Rare Memorabilia Right now, collecting rare memorabilia is on the rise, and this particular practice gains even more attention when it comes to collecting rare memorabilia that once belonged to a great singer, actor or actress or some other famous individual that has recently or even not so recently passed away. Why...... -
Collecting Vietnam War Memorabilia Finding collectibles that hail from a certain specific area is going to be an easy process if you know where to look and how to look. There are several different factors that are going to come into play when searching for Vietnam War Memorabilia and other types of memorabilia including...... -
Collecting Film Memorabilia There are many actors, actresses, movie scenes and other film moments that are memorable and popular years after they initially came into the limelight. As a result, many people collect film memorabilia as a way to relive their favorite movie moments, or to commemorate their favorite movie heroes. Although the......
Related Websites -
Spotting Real Autographed Sports Memorabilia Many people get excited about autographed sports memorabilia when they find it for a good price, and as a result, many people purchase so called authentic autographed sports memorabilia without investigating the authenticity of said memorabilia. The question that all buyers should be asking when shopping for autographed sports memorabilia...... -
Sports Memorabilia Collecting 101 Before you jump into the world of sports memorabilia collecting, there is some basic information that you should be well aware of. First and foremost, you should have an understanding of certain terms that are common when it comes to sports memorabilia collecting. For example: Photos, jerseys, cards and related...... -
Baseball Jerseys Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel & Souvenirs -> Baseball-MLB Baseball fan love everything about the game—the atmosphere, the rules, the players, the equipment, and especially the collectible memorabilia like baseball jerseys, the older, the better. Major League Baseball produces tons of memorabilia like bats, balls, caps, cards, logos, banners, and...... -
Collecting Signed Sports Memorabilia If you are interested in sports, then there is a growing business trend that you should be aware of, which relates to buying, collecting and selling signed sports memorabilia. This is a sound investment that would be well worth considering if you are into sports, but the first consideration that...... -
Protect Your Autographed Baseball Memorabilia Most people who are sports enthusiasts, and that collect autographed baseball memorabilia are thrilled when they find the perfect item and it happens to also be autographed by one of their favorite sports stars. This happens to be especially true when the piece of autographed baseball memorabilia is a well......
- Early (1792-1837) Half Dimes Coins: US Coins & Paper Money
- Pre-1940 Press Kits Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
- Full Bed-in-a-Bag Bedding Home Store
- Two Stage Snow Blowers Outdoor Power Equipment Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
- Full Sun Seedlings Tropicals Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
