American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas is one of the great opera voices of all time, and her distinctive voice continues to enchant people the world over. Affectionately called La Divina, she was the 20th century’s biggest diva, filled auditoriums across the globe, tackled some of opera’s most challenging roles, and mingled with celebrities around the world.

Maria Callas was born in New York City to impoverished Greek immigrants in 1923. Returning to Greece at age 13, she started taking singing lessons at the Greek National Conservatoire. Soon after her professional debut in 1941, aged 17, critics began to refer to her talent as “God-given”. Callas’ unique voice divided opinion – for each person who was struck by her sheer talent, there was another who found it harsh and penetrating. Maria Callas’ vocal range spanned just under three octaves.

Callas made her debut with New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1956, and reprised the role a year later in her Royal Opera House debut in Covent Garden, London.

Maria Callas died in Paris in 1977 aged only 53. During her short career she had lost her voice several times and suffered health problems and personal issues.