NEW YORK – The Consulate General of Greece in New York and The Juilliard School honored the centenary of Maria Callas’ birth with a program that celebrated Callas’ remarkable life and indelible contribution to opera history and craft. A Centenary Celebration of Maria Callas, part of The Arts and Society Series at Juilliard, took place September 21, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater in Manhattan. Fans of Callas from all walks of life filled the theater for the event which offered insights into the American-born Greek soprano’s life and work and her enduring legacy as one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century.

Juilliard President Damian Woetzel gave the welcoming remarks, noting that the stage was the very one that Callas herself graced during her famous master classes in 1971-1972. He then introduced Consul General of Greece in New York Dinos Konstantinou who noted that Callas’ voice captivated audiences around the world and she defined what it meant to be a diva.

Librettist, director, and Juilliard faculty member Stephen Wadsworth then took the stage to explore Callas’ extraordinary life and her enduring impact on opera history and craftsmanship with a program featuring recordings and a collection of rarely seen photos as well as video clips of renowned opera singers, musicians, and artists sharing their thoughts on Callas.

Sopranos Joyce El-Khoury, Lisette Oropesa, Sondra Radvanovsky, and Maritina Tampakopoulos spoke movingly about Callas, noting her influences on their own lives and careers while pianist Eugene Kohn who was the accompanist on all the master classes shared his personal reflections on Callas and her artistry. Juilliard alum Cynthia Clarey also shared her personal experience of auditioning for Callas.

Current Juilliard student Kassandra Cruz (MFA ’24) performed as Callas in a scene from the play Master Class by Terrence McNally. Wadsworth had directed the play with Tyne Daly in the role of Callas. Daly was also among those who shared thoughts on Callas in video clips, noting that when she played Callas onstage, she was older than Callas was when she died at only 53, pointing out that the difficulties in Callas’ life had taken a toll on her.

A reception followed the presentation which included a tour of the Callas exhibit curated by the Juilliard Library and Archives, offering an opportunity to explore Callas’ influence on the world of opera through the lens of the 1971-72 master classes she led on campus.

The event was part of the Maria Callas Centenary Celebration, produced by the Office of the Consul General of Greece in New York with the kind support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Pepsico.

Consul General Konstantinou also noted that there will be upcoming events in honor of Callas’ centenary with Teatro Grattacielo and its General and Artistic Director Stefanos Koroneos, who was among those present.

Also in attendance were Consul of Greece Dimitris Papageorgiou, Evelyn Kanellea, Nancy Papaioannou, Alexandra Mitsakis, Jimmy DeMetro, Carol Contos, Theodore Klingos, and Aphrodite Daniel among many other community members and fans of Callas.