Unveiling the Diva – Exploring the Maria Callas Museum in Athens
The Maria Callas Museum, housed in an impressive three-story neoclassical building of 1,070 square meters at 44 Mitropoleos Street, is the world’s first museum dedicated to the iconic soprano Maria Callas. Owned by the Municipality of Athens, the museum aims to highlight Callas’ artistic personality and work to who adore her and especially to those not familiar with opera.
Τhe Museum offers visitors a unique experience through a variety of media, including texts, objects, videos, and rare audio excerpts. This approach takes visitors on a journey through Callas’ life, from her early steps and career in Greece to her international career and famous roles, to her cosmopolitan lifestyle, personality, and legacy.
The permanent exhibition of the Museum is spread over the first two floors, while the third floor hosts temporary exhibitions, educational programs, master classes, small concerts, and events. The ground floor of the building features a gift shop and the La Divina café/restaurant, providing visitors with a space for relaxation and refreshment.
The Collection
The creation of the Municipality of Athens’ collection of Maria Callas items began in 2000, when the Municipality acquired its first objects through an international auction in Paris. Since then, the collection has been enriched with donations from various organizations and individuals, such as the Hellenic Maria Callas Society and the couple Konstantinos and Victoria Pylarinos.
Today, the collection numbers approximately 1,000 items, including recordings, discs, CDs, videos, and interviews of Callas. In October 2022, the Pylarinos couple donated 50 unique items from their personal collection to the Municipality of Athens. In September 2023, the Hellenic Maria Callas Society also offered significant memorabilia to the Museum. These donations, along with continuous enrichments from private collectors, organizations, and institutions, enhance the collection, which is managed by Technopolis on behalf of the Municipality of Athens.
The Permanent Exhibition
The permanent exhibition of the Museum aims to highlight the elements of Callas’ art and technique that made her unique.
It also seeks to shed light on her personality beyond the myths cultivated about her, explain what makes her exceptional, and offer aesthetic pleasure and inspiration to visitors.
The exhibition begins on the second floor with an experiential approach, immersing visitors in Callas’ voice and performances.
Visitors move sequentially through rooms that recreate scenes from her iconic performances, such as Norma, Tosca, and La Traviata, and watch Callas teaching masterclasses at the Juilliard School in New York in 1971-72.
On the first floor, the exhibition follows a chronological and thematic approach, presenting Callas’ life and career.
Visitors can listen to Callas performing famous arias, see her personal items, watch videos of her interviews, and read testimonials about her.
They can also discover information hidden in drawers or behind folding surfaces and browse press clippings on tablets.
The exhibition combines a neutral and detached perspective with a personal and experiential view, offering visitors the opportunity to discover the events and milestones of Callas’ life at their own pace and level.
The Exhibits
- Personal items of Callas (scores, performance costumes, accessories, dresses, etc.)
- Programs and performance posters
- Original letters to Callas or from her to others
- Photographs / Telegrams / Press clippings
- Artworks inspired by Callas Rich audiovisual material (recorded performances, interviews, documentaries, etc.).
