Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis: the story and tragedy of love

The romance of one of the richest men and one of the most talented women in Europe and America was watched with bated breath by the whole world. Unfortunately, the fairy tale of love has been shattered into thousands of fragments of bitter reality…

"Voice of Blood"

So Aristotle Onassis subsequently explained to numerous friends and relatives the reason for his new sudden passion. A young and attractive billionaire who made his fortune in whaling, he was already happily married to Tina Aivanos, a girl with more than a generous dowry. However, one evening turned his whole measured family life upside down. Then the famous opera diva Maria Callas appeared on the yacht of Aristotle, or Ari, as his relatives called him. Appeared, it must be said, together with her husband – both were invited to an appointment with an influential Greek tycoon by a mutual friend, Elsa Maxwell. It is unlikely that on that day Elsa foresaw at least the approximate consequences of her act. Rather, she just wanted to please both friends by showing Onassis a "Greek diamond in an Italian setting" and Kallas, a luxury yacht with a first-class welcome on board. The idea, I must say, was a success. Aristotle from the first minutes was fascinated by the singer. A small fan of the opera, he, of course, heard the name Kallas – like all educated people in Europe and America in the 50s of the twentieth century. But it was one thing to hear, and quite another to see a swarthy, bright and passionate compatriot with sharp and unforgettable features. It was Ari who was able to discern in the American Maria Callas the Greek immigrant Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos. a bright and passionate compatriot with sharp and unforgettable features. It was Ari who was able to discern in the American Maria Callas the Greek immigrant Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos. a bright and passionate compatriot with sharp and unforgettable features. It was Ari who was able to discern in the American Maria Callas the Greek immigrant Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos.

A million red roses

Their romance developed so rapidly that even the press could not always keep up with it. After a fateful reception on a yacht, where Onassis, according to Mary's memoirs, "drank bitter Greek wine from her palms", followed by a ball in a London hotel, hosted by Aristotle in honor of Callas. At this ball, he literally showered her with roses: there were so many purple flowers that they filled all the free space in the hall. The 36-year-old opera diva, who has already seen a lot of eccentric fans in her career, fell in love like a girl. She left her husband, filed for divorce, which, however, did not take place immediately due to strict Catholic traditions (Callas' husband was Italian). In fairness, it must be said that Aristotle also divorced. The lovers began to live in Paris, content, it seemed, only with each other. Onassis, of course matters of the heart did not interfere with an already prosperous business. But Maria Callas, for the sake of her beloved, actually abandoned the most expensive thing that she had. She stopped singing.

"We're just good friends"

The first thunder struck when Callas became pregnant. By that time, she was already 42, and doubts were overcome, so the support of a loving person was needed more than ever. But Aristotle suddenly cut off: "I already have two children, and the third is not needed." No persuasion helped, Maria did not dare to disobey, which she later regretted very much. So an innocent baby was sacrificed as a sacrifice of great love … And Onassis carried on. Instead of offering Mary a hand and a heart, as everyone around expected, he suddenly announces at a press conference that he and Kallas are "only good friends." The reason for this sudden transition from love to "friendship" is the charming elegant Jacqueline, Jackie Kennedy, the widow of the American president. It was on her finger that Ari put an engagement ring in the end. And Maria was left alone, betrayed and insulted, like her beloved opera heroine Medea. After the betrayal of Onassis, she still tried to build a career, starred in the film. But … "without him, everything does not matter," Maria wrote in her diary. Onassis died in 1975. When this news reached Callas, she announced: "I only have death." Two years later, the great opera singer died in Paris, the city that gave her so much happiness and grief at the same time.