MARIA CALLAS EXHIBITION IN NEW YORK
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Consulate General of Greece
in New York
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The Italian Cultural Institute of New York
in collaboration with
The Consulate General of Greece in New York
with major support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
announce a press conference to present:
“MARIA CALLAS: A Woman, a Voice, a Myth”
A Rare Exhibition of the Great Opera Singer’s Costumes,
Jewelry and Memorabilia
PRESS CONFERENCE – February 28 at 3PM
Location:
Greek Press and Communication Office
305 East 47th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, New York
Media R.S.V.P.
Polyxeni Mastroperrou
Tel. 212 751- 8788
Email: rsvp@greeceinnewyork.org
New York- The Italian Cultural Institute of New York in collaboration with the Consulate General of Greece, with major support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, will hold a press conference on February 28 at 3:00pm at the Greek Press and Communication Office, to present the exhibition “MARIA CALLAS: A Woman, a Voice, a Myth” A Rare Exhibit of the Great Opera Singer’s Costumes, Jewelry and Memorabilia- March 2-30th 2011. Mr. Bruno Tosi, President of the Associazione Culturale Maria Callas, will share his knowledge and passion for La Divina illustrating some of the items that will be on view at the exhibition and will reminisce about his decade long friendship with the artist.
The exhibition will open at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, on March 2nd and will last through March 30th 2011. It represents a unique opportunity to understand and experience Callas’ life and work and features a comprehensive collection of her personal belongings and recordings. Twenty-two original stage costumes and dresses, jewels, rare documents, books and letters, all passionately collected over many years by Bruno Tosi, President of Associazione Culturale Maria Callas, as well as photographs on loan from the Hellenic Parliament Foundation will be displayed. First displayed at the Olivetti Show Room in Venice in 1993, the exhibition has successfully been showcased at the Italian Cultural Institutes of Los Angeles and San Francisco, in collaboration with the Greek Consulates General in both cities, as well as at the Cannes Film Festival, before being enlarged and updated for its display in New York. “Maria Callas: A Woman, a Voice, a Myth” is organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Greece in New York and with major support for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Maria Callas (December 2, 1923 - September 16, 1977) was born in New York City and received her musical education in Greece and established her career in Italy.
She was one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice, and great dramatic gifts. An extremely versatile singer, her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini; further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her remarkable musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina. Her dramatic life and personal tragedy have often overshadowed Callas the artist in the popular press. However, her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her “The Bible of opera”,[1] and her influence so enduring that, in 2006, Opera News wrote of her: “Nearly thirty years after her death, she’s still the definition of the diva as artist—and still one of classical music’s best-selling vocalists.
The Exhibition
“MARIA CALLAS: A Woman, a Voice, a Myth”
at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York
686 Park Avenue - New York (between 68th and 69th Street), NY 10065
from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm
A series of guided tours through the galleries will be open to selected, professional groups.
The Italian Cultural Institute of New York
Founded in 1961, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York is an office of the Italian government, dedicated to the promotion of Italian language and culture in the United States through the organization of cultural events.
Under the guidance of its trustees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its advisory board, and its staff, the Italian Institute of Culture of New York conforms to this commitment by fostering the cultural exchange between Italy and the US in a variety of areas, from the arts to the humanities to science.
Central to the Italian Cultural Institute’s mission is a constant effort to encourage the understanding and enjoyment of Italian culture by organizing and promoting cultural events in collaboration with the most prominent academic and cultural institutions of the East Coast. The Italian Cultural Institute of New York focuses on the development of initiatives aimed at showcasing Italian excellence in various fields, such as science, technology, the arts and design. The development of academic exchanges, the organization and support of visual arts exhibitions, the grants for translation and publication of Italian books, the promotion of Italian studies, and the cooperation with local institutions in planning various events that focus on Italian music, dance, cinema, theater, architecture, literature, philosophy etc., are just a few examples of the Institute’s initiatives.
In conclusion, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York provides an “open window” on the cultural and social aspects of past and current Italy.
For more information please visit: www.iicnewyork@esteri.it
Press contact: Email: eva.zanardi@esteri.it tel: +1 212 879 4242 ext. 333
Allestimento a cura di: Renata Rosati
Presidente Comitato di Coordinamento Esposizioni negli Stati Uniti e Europa: Giuliana Ridolfi |
Maria Callas dresses, jewelry on display in New York
(AFP) – 2 days ago
NEW YORK — The stage costumes, dresses and jewelry of late opera singer Maria Callas are featured in an exhibition opening Wednesday in New York.
Included in the exhibit are the dress worn by "La Divina" in the "Tosca" production directed by Franco Zeffirelli in 1965, and two dresses she wore as Violetta, the heroine of "La Traviata," sung by Callas in New York in 1956 and 1958.
The costumes are post-1953, after Callas, who as a young woman weighed 238 pounds (108 kilograms), lost 88 pounds (40 kilograms), at the request of film and theater director Luchino Visconti.
"And in 1956, she was declared one of the 10 most elegant women in the world," said collector Bruno Tosi, who discussed exhibit items ahead of the opening.
The personal belongings on display come from the collection of Tosi, president of the Maria Callas Cultural Association.
Among the other items are a blouse and a black skirt designed by Yves Saint-Laurent that Callas wore while studying at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York in 1971-72.
Since the diva's death in September 1977 at age 53, Tosi has purchased at auctions items belonging to the legendary soprano, including more than 70 letters, thousands of photographs and archived articles written about her.
He is preparing to offer his collection to the city of Venice for a museum to be named for Callas, slated to open next year.
"A Woman, a Voice, a Myth" is organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York in collaboration with the Consulate General of Greece and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. It runs through March 30.
 
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