Posted on Monday 10 December 2007
A collection of Maria Callas’ personal belongings, including love letters penned by the late singer, has gone on show in Milan,
ahead of next week’s auction.
The memorabilia comprises of ornaments, gowns, musical scores and
photographs of the opera legend taken with figures such as ex-US
president John F Kennedy. Also included in the collection, and possibly
of most interest, is a series of love letters, written by Maria Callas
to Giovanni Battista Meneghini, to whom she was married for ten years.
The 63 missives, written before and after the couple’s marriage,
provide illuminating insight into the real relationship between the
Greek soprano and the Italian industrialist.
Shortly after meeting Meneghini, in 1947, Callas wrote: "To leave you would be too big a punishment for me."
Meneghini's diary, which records his separation from Callas after she
left her him for Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping tycoon, is also
being put up for sale for 1,500 euros (£1082).
Sotheby's said the sale had already attracted a considerable amount of attention.
"We are getting some fanatic phone calls from people saying: 'Remember
this is going to be mine'," said Iris Fabbri from the auction house.
The 330 lots, all items from Meneghini’s estate, will be auctioned by Sotheby's in Milan on 12 December.
www.sothebys.com