An Introduction to 7 Deaths of Maria Callas
Maria Callas, one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century, is the inspiration for an opera project from the mind of internationally renowned performance artist, Marina Abramović.
If you’re intrigued by a mixture of performance art, meditative film and classic soprano arias, then we think this is for you. With tickets starting from just £10, book yours now for Marina Abramović’s 7 Deaths of Maria Callas at the London Coliseum from 3 November – 11 November 2023.
“Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore”: I have lived for art, I have lived for love.
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7 Deaths of Maria Callas takes us through seven arias from works by the composers Bellini, Bizet, Donizetti, Puccini and Verdi. These arias were all performed by Callas herself throughout her career.
In the opera, these seven arias are sung live in the theatre by seven singers. The arias are accompanied by a series of short films starring Marina Abramović and long-time collaborator and actor Willem Defoe.
Heroic opera deaths reimagined
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Seven arias are sung in their original language as Callas performed them.
- Violetta’s aria from La traviata, Act 3: “Addio, del passato”
- Tosca’s aria from Tosca, Act 2: “Vissi d’arte”
- Desdemona’s aria from Otello, Act 4: “Ave Maria”
- Cio-Cio-San’s aria from Madame Butterfly, Act 2: “Un bel dì, vedremo”
- Carmen’s aria (Habanera) from Carmen, Act 1: “L’amour est un oiseau rebel”
- Lucia’s aria from Lucia di Lammermoor, Act 3: “Il dolce suono”
- Norma’s aria from Norma, Act 1: “Casta Diva”
An eighth death
These seven arias all have one thing in common. All seven are the final arias sung by the heroine before they tragically die in their respective operas, hence the “7 Deaths” of the title.
The films are titled “Burning”, “Knifing”, “Jumping”, “Hara-kiri”, “Strangulation”, “Consumption” and “Madness”. These titles each match the deaths of the heroines.
View images from the Munich Opera production of 7 Deaths of Maria Callas
The opera ends with an eighth and final death. The scene is set in a hotel room in Paris where the real Callas died.
As well as classic arias, there is new music from Serbian composer, Marko Nikodijević.
