Customer Reviews

Maria Callas

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I am amazed that there wasn't more buzz about this truly insightful account of the final tour of the great Maria Callas. Robert Sutherland is a first rate musician and accompanist with an insider's view to the struggle that plagued Maria Callas during those turbulent and triumphant concerts(44 in all)worldwide. He ate, slept, and lived with Callas and DiStefano through the agony and ecstacy that each performance heaped on this trio, soprano, tenor, and accompanist. I read the entire book in 24 hours, I could not put it down.
My supreme satisfaction came when I finally got to meet Robert Sutherland at the moving tribute that was staged at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on the anniversary of Maria Callas' death.For Callas fans, opera fans, and those interested in the backstage goings on of singer's tours, this is a "must".

Well, before I actually get to the book I had been longing to get for quite a few years, I can't but express how great it was to receive the book real soon, even sooner than scheduled and in perfect "next-to new" condition.

As for the content...well...I read it from cover to cover in no time. Being interesed in the creative side of the Callas phenomenon I had actually expected something more articulalte professionally from a musician like Mr. Sutherland. Leaving the rather dull and uninventive language aside, he does seem to have things to tell and whenever he starts describing the actual concerts and shares his view of the condition of the Voice, tells about the rehearsals (which he does reluctantly and sporadically throughout the narration) - that's where the book becomes a thrilling read. He does reveal certain things about the Personality, but those are very few flashes, yet very bright and emotionally rich. Distefano is depicted as a rude "Sicilian peasant" causing more problems than giving help and actually ruining the remains of the voices - his and La Callas' and perhaps bringing closer Maria's last day with the enormous row of scandals and fights through the tour.

So, for a Callasite this book is a must and without a doubt one of the most informative and fascinating books on the late Callas career and life. However, if one wants to get to know more about Maria Callas this is not the source. Especially considering the very often unmotivated and out of place "flashbacks" of Sutherland summing up the early years and the highlights of the career of the Greatest Soprano of the 20th century. One gets an impression that those flashbacks are nothing but a filler to give more pages to a pretty information-defficient manuscript. But what IS there is the authors enormous admiration for Maria and at times he gets to draw you in in the pre-show atmosphere and gives you the feeling of presence.
Highly recommended read especially with one of the last recital's recordings.