An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I've left the opera house.
First I lost my voice, then I lost my figure and then I lost Onassis.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the deep personal losses experienced by Maria Callas in her life, indicating how intertwined her identity was with her relationships and self-image.
In this quote, Maria Callas expresses the profound impact of her emotional and personal losses. Losing her voice symbolizes a loss of power and identity in her professional life, while losing her figure represents a loss of self-esteem and physicality, culminating in the heartbreak of losing Aristotle Onassis, who was a significant relationship in her life. This progression illustrates how intertwined her vocal artistry, self-image, and personal relationships were, highlighting the struggles of a public figure facing personal turmoil.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Maria Callas said, 'First I lost my voice, then I lost my figure and then I lost Onassis,' highlighting the importance of resilience in the face of loss.
More from Maria Callas
All quotes →I would like to be Maria, but there is La Callas who demands that I carry myself with her dignity.
I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best.
What is there in life if you do not work? There is only sensation, and there are only a few sensations— you cannot live on them. You can only live on work, by work, through work. How can you live with self-respect if you do not do things as well as lies in you?
To sing is an expression of your being, a being which is becoming.
I don't need the money, dear. I work for art.
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