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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.
Maria Callas in front of the Ritz hotel, Place Vendôme, Paris, December 1958. Picture: Roger-Viollet/ ArenaPAL
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
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Ischia, 1956 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Holiday in Palm Beach, 1974 Credit: Marzotto Archive Collection
Callas in her dressing room at the Royal Opera House in London, returning to normal after a performance. Picture: Getty
A reminder of her star status - Callas is mobbed by admirers after her last performance at La Scala. Picture: Getty
Maria Callas in formidable form in 'Medea'. Picture: Getty
Always fond of her admirers, Callas signs autographs. Picture: Getty
Captured, wryly, mid-conversation. Picture: Getty
Backstage with the cast of Donizetti's 'Poliuto' at La Scala, Milan. Picture: Getty
Maria at a party in Monte Carlo, dancing with Aristotle Onassis. Picture: Getty
Taking the applause (and the flowers) at London's Royal Festival Hall. Picture: Getty
Every inch the megastar, Callas in transit. Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty
Callas on a trip to London. Picture: Getty
Hand luggage only? Callas escorts her dogs through Orly airport in Paris. Picture: Getty
On the set of 'Medea', with Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini. Picture: Getty
Callas and her lover, Greek-born financier Aristotle Onassis. Picture: Getty
The soprano in portrait, early on in her career. Picture: Getty
The soprano arrives in Milan's Malpensa airport. Picture: Getty
Arriving at Idlewild airport in New York. Picture: Getty
Callas records that legendary soprano voice. Picture: Getty
Taking the applause at the Odeon theatre in Paris. Picture: Getty
Listening back to a recording with conductor Tullio Serafin and tenor Feruccio Tagliavini. Picture: Getty