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That must have been a bittersweet moment. A combination of elation and sadness indeed. Well I was a bit older and will never forget that day either. Indeed I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. It was announced on the radio and I felt a chill come over my body. Still I knew that somehow she would live forever! In fact I would bet that she is revered more now than at any other time. If there ever was a true musician on the level of the greatest artists who ever lived it was she. That is something that is quite rare among singers, many of whom have a voice, but can barely read music and know little about music theory and composition. Callas did not have "a voice" in the traditional sense and probably because of that compensated for the lack of a classically beautiful voice in other ways. Plus she instinctively new how to dramatize what she sang to make it believable. Where others might exaggerate the drama to get a certain point across, with Callas it was never an exaggeration, but exactly how a person in such a situation would react in real life. Again that is something that is rare for singers to accomplish. Yet Callas knew that the great composers provided the framework. It was all there in the score. She trusted them and used the bare notes that they provided, be they a simple phrase or the most complex of coloratura passages, to bring the music magically to life. I can think of so many examples, but right now the thought of the word "delitto" (crime) and how she sings it in Lady Macheth's aria "La luce langue" from Verdi's Macbeth sends shivers down my spine. Yes one simple solitary word! Amazing!!! Truly amazing! Even beyond amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJfY7aUAN14

Posts such as the above are exactly what got the "Organ Thread" purged from this very forum and resulted in an esteemed poster being banned from this site. Not exactly a way to get anybody "closer". If an "I Love Lucy" thread is started I will contribute in an appropriate fashion and not mention a word about things operatic because I also have a warm spot for Lucille Ball and would never think of doing anything to jeopardize a thread dedicated to her. Enough said! Incidentally to get things back on track one of my regrets was never seeing Callas in person. I would have been able to do so only during her final recitals in the early 1970's as when I discovered her in 1965 I was all of 14 and that was the last year of her operatic stage career. I recall a classmate at the time asking why I never went to any of her performances as she did appear in NYC which was doable. My response was that she was not the singer that she once was and I felt that it would have been a painful experience. I regret that decision now as Callas was still Callas... and even when not on top of her game she was still unique... and still the one and only La Divina. A missed opportunity indeed!

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No, you got up on your usual side and it is not flattering to you. Yes criticisms via PM that were not warranted or appreciated. Criticism that was not based on reality. As I recall I expressed grave concern over relatives who might have been involved in the terrorust attack in Nice France last year. I was on pins and needles for two days. My "concern" made me a "warmonger" according to your PM. Quite a leap on your part and totally irrational. Plus, I know that you have toyed with me since then. The last time I totally did not respond even though I wanted to. So this time I took your bait as you just admitted. That says more about you than me. Situations like this that make me evaluate my participation here. And to think I stated this thread for my love of music and I get aggravation in return. I can get down any dirty with the best of them but I don't need this shit. Plus what a waste of my time.

Did someone get up in the wrong side of the bed this morning! Geez!! This thread is about Callas and how some of us adore her. So please allow us some hyperbole! I never mentioned Lucille Ball until you referenced her, and perhaps I fell for the bait. Plus, as I said it is a seperate greatness and as @TruHart1 one says it is like comparing apples and oranges. They worked in two different fields. However, as mentioned Callas did not only portray comedy while singing, but while not singing in her native language. In that sense she can be considered to be better or at least different than Lucy. So, it is a different talent and as we all know at least as the character of Lucy Ricardo was portrayed singing was not her main talent. Plus Callas could convey high drama as effectively as well, and again all with the singing voice and not in her native language. That is why she is still considered by many to be the greatest exponent of Norma to this very day. There also moments in her Lady Macbeth that can curdle one's blood. There are only a few films of Callas acting on stage. However, according to those who did see her on stage Callas always reacted to others in a manner that was spontaneous given the situation. It was never exactly the same even when working with someone such as Tito Gobbi in the second act of Tosca as she did on many occasions. It was all on impulse and that made things seem real. Plus, she never had any formal training in acting. It was all a natural instinct at least as far as tragedy was concerned. According to those such as Franco Zeferelli who worked with her she found comedy more difficult because she was not a funny person in real life. She had to work and struggle to get things correct, but she eventually did! Of course all this opens up an argument where I will be accused of saying that she is a better at acting than Olivier, but I'll take my chances!

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Ah! BJR! The hallmark of a true Callas fan and someone who knows where the action all originated when it comes to the best recordings of her live performances!

Well I never said that but... Yes, and much better because she conveyed the comedy without the visuals! The same is true on her recording of Il Barbiere di Siviglia as one can hear the comedy in her voice. Of course unlike Ball She was not a natural commediene. She had to work at it. As an example a recording exists of her first attempt at Il Barbiere and she overplays the comedy. When she recorded it a year later everything was in place pefectly. Also that she did it while singing and in Italian which was not her native tongue makes it all the more impressive! I mean no disrespect to Lucille Ball because "I Love Lucy"... really!!! She is my all time favorite and especially as Lucy Ricardo. I hope this ''splains" how I feel about her as she relates to Callas. As @TruHart1 implies a separate greatness indeed!

You mention all her great portrayals where she literally becomes each character. May I add Lady Macbeth and Anna Bolena to the list as well! Even when at less than her best she completely triumphs over the competition as in the 1960 stereo Norma where her portrayal is so complete that one can forgive any vocal shortcomings. Her most underrated performance is Fiorilla in Il Turco in Italia where she proves to be an extraordinary comedienne, and does so completely by acting with her voice and without the benefit of the visual. The mark of greatness! Yet this same voice can make one tremble in fear as Medea or Norma or break your heart as the tender Amina.

Callas giving a master class in a perfect legato and the perfect articulation iof trills in an excerpt from the final scene of Anna Bolena. It does not get much better than this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Obv-xmnXI

Even as late as 1965 she can deliver a perfect legato line!