Maria Callas Pierre Salinger

Maria Callas was born in New York City in 1923. She made her professional debut with the Royal Opera of Athens in Boccaccio, and took her first major role in Tosca. Garnering international acclaim, her Italian opera debut took place at the Verona Arena in 1947, followed by her 1954 American debut in Norma. During the 1960s, the quality and frequency of her performances waned. On September 16, 1977, Callas died in Paris.