Maria Callas Remembered: An Intimate Portrait of the Private Callas

by Nadia Stancioff

Years after her death Maria Callas remains one of the most renowned and compelling of all divas. Although much has been written about Callas the prima donna, the consummate stage magician, and the tragic lover of Aristotle Onassis, this is the first account of Maria the woman by someone who was close to her. Stancioff, a longtime friend, shares memories of the Maria who gave impromptu concerts of Beatles hits and Mexican ballads; of the Maria who starved herself to conform to the image of a celebrity but would go into rhapsodies about a plate of pasta. And to her own warm reminiscences, Stancioff adds the insights of Maria's friends, colleagues, and family. The figure that emerges is intriguing, infuriating, mystifying -- and endlessly fascinating.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

Reviews

[Giulia Mascheroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book if you want to know more about Maria Callas' life, written by one of her personal friends. Very smooth read, it feels like listening to Nadia Stancioff reminiscing of her dear friend Maria, rather than the stuffy journalistic biography.

[Marybeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opera legend Maria Callas would have been 100 years old in Dec. 2023. Stancioff’s memoir is a loving yet honest look at the very human person called “La Divina.” Writing several years after the publication of many biographies and dissertations about Callas’ body of works, Stancioff reached out again to many of the star’s relatives and friends, who shared stories and insights, many of which had not appeared in earlier publications. This is not an in-depth, tell-all book but rather a close friend’s respectful tribute.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read anything on Maria Callas (after studying reviews...) This was a very well done one by a personal friend who loved her. I will always be fascinated by this woman, who to me, had the most perfect operatic voice ...It was not a perfect voice, but so full of emotion, and I just love her whole story of her irritating mother, and her love affair with Aritstotal Onnasis, and her dedication to her art. I cry when I hear her voice sometimes, and I cry when I read her story too.....it's an amazing portrait of an artist. She did not have an easy life, but left an amazing legacy.