Maria Callas Museum
Μουσείο Μαρία Κάλλας
The museum's logo
The museum's facade, 2023
Established2023
Location44 Mitropoleos Street, Athens, Greece
OwnerMunicipality of Athens
Websitehttps://mariacallasmuseum.gr/en/

The Maria Callas Museum is a biographical museum dedicated to the renowned Greek soprano Maria Callas. It opened on 26 October 2023, and is situated in Athens, Greece.

History

In 2000, the Municipality of Athens took part at an auction of Callas' personal objects, thus initiating a Callas-themed collection, with the initial prospect of creating an exhibition for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[1] In 2010, the Municipality of Athens bought a three storey neoclassical building of the interwar period situated on 44 Mitropoleos Street, for 7 million euros.[2] Three years later, a previous plan to house a theatrical museum at the building failed, and thus the idea for transferring the Callas collection there was born.[2] The related museologic study by Erato Koutsoudaki, Andromache Gazi and Alexandros Charkiolakis was first presented in 2014.[2] Eventually, the Maria Callas Museum was inaugurated a decade later, on Thursday, 26 October 2023.[3][4] For the 2023 – 2028 period, its administration was assigned to the administerial board of the Technopolis cultural venue.[5]

Collections

The museum includes numerous personal objects, operatic costumes[6] and personal haute couture garments, some created by Biki. According to the museum's co-designer, architect and museologist Erato Koutsoudaki, the museum's collection is not its greatest asset;[2][7] its exhibitions were designed on the basis of Callas' personality; they include her singing voice and interviews of hers.[2]

References

  1. Howard, Michael (1 December 2000). "Auction rouses Greek passions for 'our Maria'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ρηγόπουλος, Δημήτρης (29 March 2014). "Ενα «σπίτι» για τη Μαρία Κάλλας στην Αθήνα". Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ (in Greek). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. "Opera diva Maria Callas museum opens in Athens on centenary". France 24. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. Maltezou, Renee (26 October 2023). "Greece opens Maria Callas museum for a glimpse into opera diva's life". Reuters. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. Βασιλειάδου, Μάρω (26 October 2023). "Το νέο «σπίτι» της Κάλλας". Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ (in Greek). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. Gatopoulos, Derek (25 October 2023). "A century after her birth, opera great Maria Callas is honored with a new museum in Greece". AP News. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. Vasiliadou, Maro (3 November 2022). "A new house of worship for the divine Maria Callas | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.

37°58′32″N 23°43′51″E / 37.9755°N 23.7308°E / 37.9755; 23.7308

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