Maria Callas…the goddess of her musical time
The word Diva in Italian means descendant of the gods. With musical theater occupying the throne of arts throughout Europe in the eighteenth century, which originally arose and crystallized in Italy, the description of Diva was given to the singer who played the main role in the musical, that is, the opera, which was often built around a central female character, around whom the dramatic events revolved. The most important songs, or “arias,” as they are known in classical music terms, are also composed for them.
For an opera singer to be beatified, “Diva,” it will not be enough for her to have the sweetest throat and the best voice, nor to be superior to her peers in terms of musical and theatrical performance, but she must also have an extraordinary appeal, have an aura and presence, and have her appearance enchant souls, not Not only on stage, but also in public space.
Perhaps a singer over the past and present centuries, and perhaps throughout the history of opera, has not identified in the collective consciousness with the title of Diva, as the American singer, of Greek origin, Maria Callas (1923 – 1977), whose birth today, December 2, marks the centenary. . In fact, Callas transcended the title of Deva, and she alone was called the Divine (La Divina). In the middle of the twentieth century, she became a public figure and a public icon of global importance, whose news filled the world and occupied people, including those who were not necessarily a fan of opera and classical music.
Arya, the pure goddess (Casta Diva) in the first act of the opera Norma by the Italian author Vincenzo Bellini, is the best example, both in the literal sense of the title and in terms of both performance and appeal, of Maria Callas’s pure identification with the title of Diva. . In it, she plays the starring role as Norma, the high priestess of the Celtic Druids, the indigenous people of pre-Christian Western Europe. As for the aria that she performs, it is a soliloquy in which Norma prays to the moon, as it is a symbol of purity and peace, according to the beliefs of the Druids.
There are many levels of creativity in which Callas’s ability to deserve the title of Diva is evident. The first and most important of which is the performative level, as her throat reaches the extreme edges of human expression, from the bottom, where the melancholy, broken, and complaining voice is at the beginning of the song, to the top, where the voice is loud, full, earnest, and solace at the climax. She is also good at controlling musical time, in order to harness it in order to influence the listener, so she secretly assumes the role of musical leadership, and the orchestra conductor is only left with the task of coordinating between the players.
In order to penetrate the depths of her listeners, with the aim of creating the strongest sympathy between them and the character of Norma that she plays, Callas possesses unparalleled control over what is called the vibration of the voice, or its vibration, the vibrato, where the tone emanating from her throat undulates almost with complete will, between the broad, single, tinged sound. Metaphysical and trembling distress with a dramatic and emotional effect, reflecting the psychological and emotional changes that occur in the character.
In addition to the superior performance, there is also the unique appeal of Kalas. Whether the aria is presented theatrically as part of a complete performance of the opera in all its acts, or as an excerpt, in the form of a single piece of music accompanied by an orchestra or piano without decoration, costumes or the possibility of movement on stage (mise-en-scène), the diva still has the ability to attract eyes as well as ears to it, and make Attention is focused on her. While body language and facial gestures play a fundamental role in embodying the performer’s feelings and feelings, for Diva, like Callas, it is enough for her to stand on the stage without moving, or to step on it to enter the audience, so that she immediately becomes the object of the gaze of those present.
Then her extraordinary appeal began to extend beyond the walls of theaters and opera houses, reaching the windows of clothing stores and luxury fashion houses, especially in the fifties and the beginning of the sixties of the last century, and she became an example to be emulated among the women of her era, in appearance as well as in singer. The diva of the era had a direct influence on the fashion industry in Europe and America. Whether by drawing inspiration from the historical designs sewn for her roles in operatic performances, or the models she wore during concerts and public events.
One of the most important fashion designers who were inspired by Diva, and had the honor of designing and sewing for her, and who played a role in creating the classic look, was the designer Elvira Leonardi Bouyeure, known by her trade name BIKI. In 1951, Boyuri met the most famous soprano at a dinner invited by the son of the legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini. Since then, a process of cooperation between the two women began that lasted many years. During her time, 24 coats, 200 dresses, and nearly 300 hats were designed for the diva of the era, imprinting the public taste with the stamp of both Callas and Becky.
More than half a century later, in July of this year, French fashion designer Stephane Rolland held a show during Paris Fashion Week for the fall-winter 2023-2024 season, which he dedicated to honoring the memory of La Divina on the centenary of her birth. Among his designs was an evening gown made of sheer silk organza, which he named “Casta Diva” in honor of him and inspired by the aria that Callas famously sang as Norma in Bellini’s opera.
Her crossing the boundaries of the Diva title within the framework of music and arts and crossing it into the public space had a silent dark side. Callas is among the first to suffer restrictions on personal freedom due to their transformation into public icons in a consumer era that has come to require the commodification of celebrities, especially females.
Thus, throughout her artistic career, she has been subjected to increasing pressure, forcing her to control her body weight, in order to adhere to formal standards that meet the desires of producers and investors in the entertainment and media sectors. Of his show, Rolland told the Associated Press: “Designing to honor Maria Callas is both difficult and responsible. I tried to be inspired by her strength, her femininity and her sensitivity. She had to struggle a lot in her life, so she had to stay strong.”
