JOURNAL ARTICLE

7 Deaths of Maria Callas, Marina Abramović (dir.) (2023) English National Opera, 8 November 2023.

  • Published In: Scene (2044-3714), 2023, v. 11, n. 1/2. P. 102 1 of 3

  • Database: Art Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sporton, Gregory 3 of 3

Abstract

The article reviews *7 Deaths of Maria Callas*, a 2023 performance directed by Marina Abramović and staged by the English National Opera. The work, originally premiered in 2020 at the Bayerische Staatsoper, blends operatic elements with visual art, focusing on the final hallucinations of the opera singer Maria Callas as portrayed by Abramović. While visually striking and conceptually ambitious, the production is not an opera and relies heavily on audience familiarity with operatic narratives and characters, which presents challenges for engagement and dramatic tension. The review notes that Abramović's spoken text and the decontextualized arias do not fully capture the emotional depth of Callas's roles, and that Abramović's identification with Callas raises questions about the legitimacy of her artistic appropriation within the operatic tradition.

Additional Information

  • Source:Scene (2044-3714). 2023/12, Vol. 11, Issue 1/2, p102
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Arts and Entertainment
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:2044-3714
  • DOI:10.1386/scene_00056_5
  • Accession Number:175896878
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