Maria Callas: one long breath

Maria Callas: Take a deep breath and hold it. Carry that feeling of suspended tension all the way through to the end of the piece of music. 

Your music should have an underlying current energy that's always there, pushing the music forward. Drop that energy and the music dies. The audience collectively exhales.

Pavarotti, the famous tenor, used the jet engine analogy. A jet's engines are always buzzing in the background, carrying it forward. Turn those engines off mid-flight and you'll feel an eerie, *dead* silence.

Notice this with any great performer. They *grab* you from the first note and hoist you up, carrying you on a three-minute journey. Keeping you suspended requires a constant stream of energy. They don't *drop* you mid-song. 

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Maria Callas soprano is one of classical music's most renowned musicians. Her voice was incredible, but she was perhaps best known for her sense of drama. She brought her characters to life. And had an infectious charisma. When she was on stage you simply couldn't look away. She's also one of the few classical musicians that was able to penetrate popular culture. A celebrity in her day, she was frequently seen at high-society functions, rubbing elbows with people like the Kennedys.

[danawinsor]

Callas really was a musical genius. Listening to her analysis of interpretation in its most basic sense, is extraordiary.

[CatherineO-ou]

I love her speaking voice and intonation.

[edithhenson]

I love even her speaking voice. She explains everything relating to music easily where you want to listen to her talk about as well as sing it!

[rosecomer]

This woman's voice was crystal clear perfection. What an amazing instrument, and completely under her control. Ari Onassis was just a poison to so many.

[tonpap]

She explains brilliantly the technical part of her performance. What it can't be explained ( because it is out of this world) was her capacity to identify herself with the characters she impersonated and live their drama onstage.

[Markalanharman]

The absolute Queen of the opera. She sang it all. No other opera singer can claim to sing everything from Norma to Carmen. The absolute standard that no other sing has ever reached.

[aiolosgr]

She was unrivalled and she just knew it.

[luishizaru]

Such an eloquent and intelligent artist. The nickname “La Divina” fits just perfectly

[κψαρεματσουχτρας]

She was from Athens .Her ashes came back here at Saronic .She blessed the water every day Greeks are swimming. Thank you my love Great Greek Voice and Soul

[HughReid-mk]

I wish I could find this full interview. I remember it well. The person conducting it is none other than her close friend, Lord Harewood. He was connected to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. First, as the director, then on the board. He was the grandson of King George V. Callas trusted him totally. This snippet is, Callas, explaining how belcanto is supposed to sound. She goes on later to say why, at times, she did not use it during parts in her performances. She wondered if the audience appreciated why she would do this. This interview lasts good 40 minutes. She gives a lot of insights into her career. Lord Harewood paid a last visit to her Paris apartment, at her death. His comments are heartfelt.

[ilonacheema]

I find her very beautiful. And I also saw other interviews with her before, she just talks like a lady all the time. Beautiful tone of voice and so intelligently.

[milax]

She was so beautiful like Greek Godess . Royal .

[mjremy]

What a jewel she is. Her interpretation of the character is what lends so much color to the aria. The way she made Carmen fiercely independent, slutty, vulgar, but with an irresistible fragrance. Men swooned when they saw her. And this was in the voice, the crooning, stretching out the vowels. She was to arias what Laurence Olivier was to acting. She went to the heart of the character and understood what made them tick and brought that out in the music. An astonishing artist of the highest caliber. Onassis ruined her and she loved him. He disrespected and broke her voice and soul. So very sad. No one comes close to Callas. What a precious jewel.

[Flower-vw]

I was just thinking about dear Maria Callas today, as I listened to the Metropolitan Opera broadcast of "Tosca" sung by Lise Davidsen. Lise has an awesomely beautiful voice and uses it well. But... Maria had pathos in her performances, including as Tosca. But... Maria is so correct here, especially regarding the audience not breathing during the aria. I've experienced this phenomenon in my performances, more palpably in acting performances, in which there are more actual silences, and I could feel them only breathing with me. Audiences love it and are appreciative when you take them on an adventure with you. That's the reason they're there. It's wonderful. ❤❤

[Kingscrib]

When you listen to her magnificent arias, you can't help but be drawn into the performance.
Although only a movie, when Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman tears up after hearing the aria 'Addio, un fiorito', that experience of being moved to tears by sheer beauty, should be everyone's experience. 🎶

[luvindaopera]

La Divina for a very good reason. And yes, one long breath....

[danawinsor]

I find Callas' speaking about music endlessly fascinating. Discribing musical "line" is not easy, but one can hear what she is talking about in her singing. Callas was an interpretive genius and a highly trained musician (many people may not realize that she was an accomplished pianist). I have read that she was always the first to arrive and last to leave during a master class. In a documentary her teacher, Elvira de Hidalgo, talks about Callas and her remarkable natural ability. She told the young Callas that she could do "tout" (everything), which I interpret as having the ability to sing both the light coloratura and heavier dramatic repertoire. This meant she was one of the few who could do justice to operas such as Norma that require both abilities.

[УляАлекперова]

она даже когда не пеет ее голос приятно слушать..❤

[carlavw]

In just finished the book called Diva, written about her and I'm obsessed.

[paolomarcuzzo]

Bella, brava, intelligente, Divina ❤❤❤