I've always thought the problem with Callas was too-heavy rep. However, I have seen film of her performing and I do think she is the ultimate example of a singer whose interpretation of a role made the defects in her voice less important. I can remember seeing a clip of her in Tosca on PBS once that really made me understand the mania about her. She HAD the character and it was incredible.
Lee Morgan Mezzo-soprano
-----Original Message----- From: Margaret Harrison [mailto:peggyh@i...] Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 2:31 PM To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [vocalist] Callas question
Greypins@a... wrote:
> what i wonder about callas is if her weight loss was attributable to > some eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia, etc.) and, if it were, if this > partially accounts for her supposed vocal decline (i wouldn't argue that her, > in her latter years was as healthy as in her younger days) and, if this has > served to fuel the notion that opera singers have to be overweight (something > i would argue).
That I never heard. Mostly they attribute the weight loss to the crash-diet she went on to lose lots of weight fast, which was the weight-loss fashion of the day. Then she supposedly partied too long and hard when she was with Onassis. Who can say. When I read a bio of her, I was struck by how she rehearsed and rehearsed, for hours and hours, and always sang all-out, every minute. I can't believe that didn't take a toll on her voice. And probably singing too many roles that were a tad to heavy for her voice. And always going for the drama instead of playing it safe vocally. Ah well....most of us would rather have had Maria the way she was for not enough good vocal years than another one of the legion of vanilla artists for a 25-year career.
Peggy
-- Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile" mailto:peggyh@i...
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