Maria Callas in pictures: the most iconic images of the great soprano

With a career on the biggest opera stages in the world to draw from, we celebrate the great Maria Callas in pictures. Discover her life with these iconic, genre-defining images.

1. 

   1. Maria Callas in the Ritz hotel

   Maria Callas in front of the Ritz hotel, Place Vendôme, Paris, December 1958. Picture: Roger-Viollet/ ArenaPAL

2. 

   2. Maria Callas signing autographs

   Maria Callas signing autographs with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotele Onassis during the XVIII Venice International Film Festival. Venice, 1957. Picture: akg/ Archivio Mario De Biasi distribuito da Mondadori Portfolio

3. 

   3. Maria Callas in Ischia

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

4. 

   4. Maria Callas in Ischia, 1956

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

5. 

   5. Maria Callas in Ischia

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

7. 

   6. Maria Callas on holiday in Ischia

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

8. 

   7. Maria Callas in Ischua 1956

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

9. 

   8. Ischia, 1956

   Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

10. 

    9. Maria Callas in Ischia, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

11. 

    10. Maria Callas in Ischia, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

13. 

    11. Maria Callas on holiday in Ischia, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

14. 

    12. Maria Callas in 1956

    Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

15. 

    13. Maria Callas on Ischia in 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

16. 

    14. Maria Callason holiday in Ischia, 1956

    Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

17. 

    15. Maria Callas on holiday in Palm Beach, 1974

    Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

19. 

    16. Maria Callas in Ischia

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

20. 

    17. Maria Callas, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

21. 

    18. Ischia, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

22. 

    19. Maria Callas on holiday in 1974

    Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

23. 

    20. Palm Beach, 1974

    Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

25. 

    21. Maria Callas on Ischia, 1956

    Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

26. 

    22. Maria Callas on holiday in Palm Beach, 1974

    Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

27. 

    23. Maria Callas in 1974

    Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

28. 

    24. Maria Callas in Palm Beach

    Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection

29. 

    25. Backstage

    Callas in her dressing room at the Royal Opera House in London, returning to normal after a performance. Picture: Getty

31. 

    26. Leaving La Scala

    A reminder of her star status - Callas is mobbed by admirers after her last performance at La Scala. Picture: Getty

32. 

    27. In Medea

    Maria Callas in formidable form in 'Medea'. Picture: Getty

33. 

    28. Signing autographs

    Always fond of her admirers, Callas signs autographs. Picture: Getty

34. 

    29. In conversation

    Captured, wryly, mid-conversation. Picture: Getty

35. 

    30. Backstage at La Scala

    Backstage with the cast of Donizetti's 'Poliuto' at La Scala, Milan. Picture: Getty

36. 

    31. Dancing with Onassis

    Maria at a party in Monte Carlo, dancing with Aristotle Onassis. Picture: Getty

37. 

    32. Flowers everywhere

    Taking the applause (and the flowers) at London's Royal Festival Hall. Picture: Getty

38. 

    33. Pure Callas

    Every inch the megastar, Callas in transit. Picture: Getty

39. 

    34. Cracking hat

    Picture: Getty

40. 

    35. In London

    Callas on a trip to London. Picture: Getty

41. 

    36. With her dogs

    Hand luggage only? Callas escorts her dogs through Orly airport in Paris. Picture: Getty

42. 

    37. On the set of Medea

    On the set of 'Medea', with Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini. Picture: Getty

43. 

    38. With Aristotle

    Callas and her lover, Greek-born financier Aristotle Onassis. Picture: Getty

44. 

    39. Portrait

    The soprano in portrait, early on in her career. Picture: Getty

45. 

    40. Stepping off the plane

    The soprano arrives in Milan's Malpensa airport. Picture: Getty

46. 

    41. Travelling light

    Arriving at Idlewild airport in New York. Picture: Getty

47. 

    42. In the studio

    Callas records that legendary soprano voice. Picture: Getty

48. 

    43. A heroine's welcome

    Taking the applause at the Odeon theatre in Paris. Picture: Getty

49. 

    44. Listening back

    Listening back to a recording with conductor Tullio Serafin and tenor Feruccio Tagliavini. Picture: Getty

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