Maria Callas was one of, if not, the greatest voices of the classical repertoire of all time and had that rare quality opera lovers call “presence”.

Now more than 40 years after her death on the 16th of September, 1977, the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco is hosting an exhibition at the Espace Indigo that illustrates a life story as transcendent as it is tragic.

Entitled «  Maria by Callas » and based on an original idea by Tom Volf, director of the film of the same name and author of two reference books on the singer, the exhibition will focus on all the different aspects of the New York born diva, including the years she lived in the Principality from 1960 to 1967, away from stardom and alongside her great love, Greek shipping magnate Aristote Onassis.

It includes an array of personal photographs, private Super 8 movies, recordings of concerts, intimate letters, behind the scene images, interviews, stage costumes, iconic objects, as well as unpublished films that belong to Monagasque cultural entities such as the Opera, the Société des Bains de Mer, the Monaco Audiovisual Archives, and the Prince’s Palace. There will also be a projection of Tom Volf’s movie at 3pm on Sunday the 15th.

Alternating between public and private moments, the idea behind this unique exhibition is to give visitors the impression that the illustrious soprano is standing in the room with them. In an interview, Maria Callas once shared her most frequent prayer: “God give me what you see fit – good or bad – but give me also the strength to bear it.” The voice of the singer thus accompanies the visitor as they wander around and follow a life story of near mythic proportions that captivated many throughout her lifetime and has continued to do ever since.

The exhibit Maria by Callas runs from 11th to 15th April, 2018 at Espace Indigo. Admission is free.

CONTACT DETAILS
Grimaldi Forum (Espace Indigo)
10, ave. Princesse Grace
98000 Monaco

Lead image by Verhoeff, Bert / Anefo – Nationaal Archief Fotocollectie Anefo (cropped) Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 – negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 926-8776, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Link (edited – cropped)