ΖΟΟΜ May 2001
Maria Kallas

Theatrical programme and photograph from the performance of "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini with the National Lyric Theatre; it was held at the open-air theatre at Klauthmonos Square (Athens) on 27th August 1942. The leading role was performed by Maria Kalogeropoulou, who would later become Maria Callas, the primadonna assoluta of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan. This was her first professional appearance in opera, during her «Greek period» (1938-1945). A year earlier she had taken part in the operetta "Boccacio" by Soupe, again with the National Lyric Theatre.
The performance was given in Greek, translated by Angelos Terzakis. The director was Dinos Giannopoulos and the conductor was Stephanos Vasileiadis. The sets were by Cleoboulos Clonis and the costumes by Antonis Fokas. The show was repeated in Italian on 8th September 1942 with a different cast.

CAST (August 1942)

Tosca: Maria Kalogeropoulou
Cavaradossi: A. Delendas
Scarpia: T. Xirellis
Sagrestano: Th. Androulis
Angelotti: T. Stephanidis
Spoletta: N. Doufexiadis
Schiarone: P. Choidas
Little shepherd: M. Koutrachani
Guard: I. Tzamarelos
Spies: I. Kountouris - S. Theodoridis

The pamphlet is part of the extensive collection of theatrical programmes in the Hellenic Literary and Historic Archive. The photograph is after Vas. Nikolaidis "Μαρία Κάλλας. Οι μεταμορφώσεις μιας τέχνης" . Athens, 1995, picture 227.

Nikos Koutsoumpos
Constantina Stamatogiannaki