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AT LAST A STREET IN VENICE BEARING
THE CALLAS NAME
Over 100.000 signatures on the www.callas.it
As a conseguence of a proposal drafted
by Associazione Maria Callas and the Fenice Opera House,
the Venice City Council has agreed to name a street after
Maria Callas - or more exactly, a Bridge, a Riva and a
Sotoportego which form a part of the theatre complex itself
on the west side of the building where there is the canal
entrance to the Opera House where the Nobility once entered
the theatre from their gondolas or boats. The "Ponte
della Fenice" (Fenice Bridge) will thus soon become
the "Ponte Maria Callas" - once the usual beaurocratic
formalities have been agreed to by the Superintendant
of Monuments. It will give access to an old Theatre Doorway
which will lead the audience into the "Aldo Rossi"
Auditorium, named after the person who handled the theatre's
re-building following the tragic fire of 1995.
Our own request was sent to the then Mayor
Massimo Cacciari, in 1999. It is certain that a huge contribution
to achieving our aims is thanks to your response, dear
friends and fans of Maria Callas! We were able to present
over 100.000 e-mail messages which encouraged and supported
the initiative. All these signatures were forwarded to
the relevant Venetian Authorities and to the Board of
Directors of the Fenice . The Theatre's Director Giampaolo
Vianello and the Artistic Director Sergio Segalini enthusiastically
joined us in supporting this proposal by our Association.
Councillor Giorgio Orsoni then presented the request to
the City Council, and the Mayor of Venice, Paolo Costa,
will be present at the solemn inauguration ceremony.
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| The Mayor of Paris Jean Tiberi |
Maestro George Pretre and Bruno Tosi |
On December 2nd 2000, in Paris, there was
the Solemn Inauguration of the Allée Maria Callas,
right below the apartment where La Divina lived and was
to die on September 16th 1977 (Avenue Georges Mandel).
In order to achieve this re-naming in the French Capital,
the English Association "The Maria Callas International
Club" was also a prime campaigner. We had proposed
naming a Street after Callas as far back as 1997 to mark
the 20th Anniversary of her death and to tie in with the
hugely successful Exhibition staged at the Hotel de Ville,
the Paris City Hall, in the magnificent Salle Saint-Jean.
The area originally chosen by the Paris City Council had
been the Place de l'Alma, and the date was fixed for September
16th. However, on August 30th the tragic accident that
caused the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, occurred
in the tunnel below that square, and the thousands of
floral tributes that were laid there by the multitudes
of people that come to pay homage made it advisable to
choose another location. The inauguration of the street
was overseen by the Mayor of Paris, Jean Tiberi, and among
those present was Maestro George Pretre, a great friend
of Maria Callas.
Message by Azeglio Ciampi, Presidente della Repubblica
Italiana
Dott. Bruno Tosi (A037)
Presidente Associazione Culturale Maria Callas
The Maria Callas Association has honoured
the memory of a great artist. A Mighty symbol in the history
of opera. An extraordinary woman both for her fascination
and her sensitivity. She loved Italy deeply, and performed
our operatic repertoire peerlessly. Today, as yesterday,
her art continues to move and thrill the world. We will
always be grateful to Maria Callas for her sublime voice.
CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI
Presidente della Repubblica Italiana
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