Opera Program

AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA: Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi. During the 1950s, a rivalry arose between the fans of two of the greatest sopranos of the century, Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi. When asked to compare their voices, Maria Callas declared it is like comparing champagne and cognac. A bystander, an obvious fan of Callas quipped, “No, with Coca-Cola.” Both women had extraordinary careers, and legions of devoted fans. Ironically, the women shared very few roles, and their careers travelled different paths. This talk will examine their careers and lives. Presenter is Marc Courtade is Business Manager for Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University, and Producer and Artistic Director of Performance Plus!