Maria Callas: The Woman Behind the Legend (32 page)

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She celebrated her 1954 American debut at a party in Chicago with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Walter Legge and other friends. Her triumphant success launched the Lyric Opera of Chicago into international orbit.

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With Arturo Toscanini, Victor de Sabata, La Scala’s artistic director, and Luchino Visconti (back to camera), who mesmerized Maria with his genius and charisma.

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Rehearsing
La Vestale
with Visconti. At first she was fascinated, then in love.

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At La Scala with Cesare Valletti, Visconti and Leonard Bernstein, discussing
La Sonnambula
. As Bernstein put it: “Callas? She was pure electricity.”

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Before Visconti, her mentor was Tullio Serafin, who once said when she doubted her abilities: “I guarantee that you can.”

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When served a summons from her former manager, Bagarozy, by a U.S. Marshal, barefoot Maria flew into a rage outside her dressing room at the Chicago Opera House, 1955.

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Two days before her Met debut, a savage
Time
magazine cover story destroyed her public image, catapulting Maria into grief and rage that lasted weeks.

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But the Voice was magic: 16 curtain calls at her Met debut as Norma, October 29, 1956.

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In Edinburgh with opera partner Giuseppe di Stefano, August 1957. Maria was accused of canceling a fifth performance when she was only contracted to sing four.

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On to Venice to a gala party given in her honor by her new friend and champion, Elsa Maxwell, with whom she sang duets.

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At the party she met Aristotle Onassis, who pursued her all over Venice—from the Lido to Harry’s Bar.