7 Deaths of Maria Callas, English National Opera

As a young woman, artist Marina Abramović was so captivated by the soprano Maria Callas that, now herself a performer of worldwide renown, she has devised a show about the singer.

7 Deaths of Maria Callas features seven of the most powerful scenes in all opera, as vividly sung and acted by the great Callas, with seven of today's leading singers reinterpreting the roles.

Abramovic herself appears on stage in a new production which receives its UKpremiere at English National Opera, in collaboration with several other leading opera houses.

Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, seen here in the Royal Opera's The Barber of Seville, appears in 7 Deaths of Maria Callas. Photo: ROH

Callas was born 100 years ago in 2023. As the leading prima donna of the 20th century, she lived as Puccini's heroine Tosca, who declares, ‘Vissi d’arte’ ('I lived for art).

Great operatic scenes that musically illustrate her life are taken from classics including Tosca, Bellini's Norma and Bizet's Carmen. The sopranos and mezzo-sopranos who step into Callas's shoes include Nadine Benjamin, Sarah Tynan, Sophie Bevan and Aigul Akhmetshina.

Design is by Riccardo Ricci of Burberry. Film footage includes appearances by film actor William Dafoe.

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Arias are sung in their original language with English surtitles. 7 Deaths of Maria Callas is a co-production of the Bayerische Staatsoper with the Greek National Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Opéra National de Paris and the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli