Callas Maria

Maria Callas (born Kalogeropoulos) was born to Greek immigrant parents. As a small child she enjoyed listening to gramophone records and radio programmes, and took piano and singing lessons.
 

Because of marital and financial problems, Mrs Kalogeropoulos returned to Greece with her two daughters, and Maria studied singing under a famous singing master in Athens. After several school performances, she was offered a part at the Royal Opera, in Suppé's 'Boccaccio'.

In 1940, Greece became engaged in the Second World War and, from time to time, Maria performed for the enemy troops. In 1942, she replaced an unwell soprano at the opera to play 'Tosca'.

When Athens was liberated by the British Forces, she worked as an interpreter for some time, but decided to return to her father in New York, in September 1945.

She should have debuted in Chicago, but the company went bankrupt so, when Maria was offered a contract for 'La Gioconda' in Verona, she gladly went to Italy.