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To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas, singer Lesley Garrett and forensic psychiatrist Dr John Crichton cast their professional ears over the archive to look for fresh clues about the legendary soprano and her remarkable yet tragic life.

Born in Manhattan to Greek immigrant parents on 2nd December 1923, Maria was put on the stage to sing at the age of 5. She said that she hated it. Her mother took her to live in occupied Greece and Maria was enrolled at the local music conservatoire to begin her vocal training at the age of just 13.

She was trained in the old bel canto technique which Callas described as being like wearing a strait jacket. She worked tirelessly and her exceptional voice, combined with her superb dramatic talents, led to her soon being hailed as La Divina ("the Divine one").

Success on the opera stage led to fame and Callas was soon a superstar. Making headline news wherever she went, she became a style icon with a huge following. But the Press also picked up on stories of her being temperamental with a tendency to be extremely difficult to work with. Every move she made was scrutinised and brutally chewed over by newspaper men.

In 1957, while still married, Callas was introduced to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. They were invited to a cruise on his yacht – along with Winston Churchill. By the end of the cruise, Callas had fallen for Onassis. She divorced her husband and began a tempestuous affair with the world’s wealthiest man. Around this time, she stopped singing regularly. After nine years, and allegedly with no warning to Callas, Onassis married Jackie Kennedy. Callas attempted to make a singing comeback, but her voice was too long neglected. She retreated to her flat in Paris where she lived a largely reclusive life. She died in 1977 aged just 53.

Archive voices include: Maria Callas, Lord Harewood, Edward Downes, Simon Callow, Alan Sievewright, Carlo Maria Giulini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Rev Richard Coles, David Holmes.

Music featured:

O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini
Un bel dì, vedremo from Madama Butterfly by Puccini
Casta Diva from Norma by Bellini
In separato carcera from Anna Bolena by Donizetti
O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini
Ecco l'orrido campo ove s'accoppia from Un Ballo in Maschera by Verdi

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production

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