Maria Callas 'London Farewell Concert' 1973, part V of V

[antoniotoricelli]

whats not to like?

[billdour1]

she is the best, because she was born Greek!

[vivelhistoire]

<3 

[RossiAndrea25]

This is the real ARTE! Brava Maria, Bravo Pippo!!

[MrSwifts31]

I firmly believe that Onassis has a lot to answer for in Maria's decline,both emtionally and vocally.When he abandoned her in 1968,she was driven even deeper into despair and becoming a recluse.

As we know she died in 1977, 4 years after these concerts.

I never beleived in a "Broken Heart" till then, I still do to this day.

We can only be grateful for the (short) career she had,and the operatic repertoire she opened to many singers.

Sleep in Peace Maria.

[MrSwifts31]

Continued:~

She did get better as the tour progressed,and when she got to Tokyo I was there to see her.By now the singing was bearable,if not(it never could be) back to the sound she had previously.

We must remember that she had not sung(not even warming up,or making any singing sound) for many years before this concert tour.

She had I beleive a totally natural and "God Given" voice,and when the emotions she used and her private life took the means away,there was no process to get them back.

[MrSwifts31]

I was at this concert(yea I AM that old)

What a strange occasion it was.

There was deafening applause(of course0

BUT

there was also equal amounts of weeping.

We could not believe that Callas voice had become reduced to what it was,basically in shreds.

She unwisely refused to allow herself to do the concert tour with an orchestra(which would have supported her ailing voice) and opted instead for piano,an unforgiving instrument which only highlighted the faults in her voice.

[joshuanassiri]

She was very brave to have opted for a piano. What a woman despite all odds @MrSwifts31

[bernalor1]

My God . . . what an artist! Simply Divine!

[raaadja99]

Even well past her prime time, Callas is better than most of the others.

[Zizibello]

@raaadja99 I so totally agree! When I see/hear most of the hacks the MET has these days, they pale in comparison to La Divina!

[drdoyle1000]

@raaadja99 You are wrong. Maria Callas is the better than all living, dead and to come into existence. Why? Because she gave mankind a hint of the beauty and strength of Mary's prayer for us before God. That is why her listeners (mostly rich, who desired Divine Mercy), went wild when they heard her sing this number. Man's deepest desire is to be loved by God and to be forgiven for his sins.