Kamis, 06 Desember 2007

Callas love letters, dresses to be auctioned off (Reuters)

MILAN (Reuters) - Musical scores, glamorous dresses and love letters belonging to Maria Callas to be auctioned next week will offer a glimpse of the private passions of the opera diva whose voice enchanted millions.

The material, released by the estate of Callas late husband Giovanni Battista Meneghini, unlocks aspects of the life Callas shared with the man she left before having an explosive relationship with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Penned before and after her marriage, 63 letters written to Meneghini are being billed as the most valuable items being put up for sale by auctioneer Sothebys in Milan with a price tag of 50,000-70,000 euros (72,780).

Written between 1947 and 1950, they unmask Callas vulnerability and deep affection for the Italian industrialist 28 years her senior who was also her manager.

"To leave you would be too big a punishment for me," she wrote after meeting Meneghini in 1947 in Verona where her career blossomed with a performance of Ponchiellis "La Gioconda."

"Dear Love, the day of our encounter is coming! Do you want me? I am yours!," the Greek-American singer wrote in another letter.

The New-York born soprano, who performed at Milans La Scala opera house, became one of the 20th century music worlds best-known figures and is credited with the almost single-handed revival of Italian bel canto opera.

"I am writing today, the day of the crucial test and the day of the great bel canto lesson I will give to everyone all over the world," she wrote from Buenos Aires in 1949, the day of the opening of Norma.

"I want the best in everything but my art comes first," she wrote in another letter.

HIGH INTEREST

There are 330 lots in the collection, including material Meneghini bought at an auction after Callas death in 1977.

Photographs of "La Divina" start in the couple hundred of euros while her metronome is being offered for 1,000-1,500 euros.

Also up for sale is a silver bowl given to the singer by U.S. President John F. Kennedy when she performed during his 1962 birthday celebrations, also attended by Marilyn Monroe.

Paintings, including a portrait, musical scores, china as well as dresses by Milan designer Biki are being offered as is a hooded Yves Saint Laurent evening cape the singer wore.

Meneghinis diary in which he recounts his separation from Callas after she and Onassis became lovers after a yacht cruise in 1959 is also being put up for sale for 1,000-1,500 euros.

Callas transformed herself from an ungainly young woman to a slim, stylish and elegant diva but a mid-career weight loss might have contributed to her vocal decline. Her prima donna temper and turbulent life kept her constantly in the spotlight as did her affair with Onassis, said to have broken her spirit and made her a recluse in her later years.

"We all think to know everything about Maria Callas ... so maybe the reality of her life which you see here in all its different aspects brings us back to imagine how she really lived," said Sothebys Iris Fabbri.

The auction has attracted interest from Athens, which has previously bought relics that once belonged to the soprano.

Born Maria Kalogeropoulos, Callas first performed in Greece when she was 18 and is adored by even those who are not opera fans.

"We are getting some fanatic phone calls from people saying Remember this is going to be mine so I think the interest is of course is very very big," Fabbri said.

Callas died in 1977 aged 53, but her reputation remains strong in the 30th year after her death. EMI have re-released her commercial catalogue on 70 cds, while fashion capital Milan is exhibiting gowns by the likes of Gucci and Prada dedicated to the opera diva.

The auction will take place on December 12, while an exhibition will open to the public on December 7.

(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, additional reporting by Dave Cutler in London, editing by Paul Casciato)

 
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