Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Charyn, author of historical novels including Ravage & Son, offers an impressive portrait of opera singer Maria Callas (1923--1977), spanning from her awkward years as a teenage neophyte to the end of her career, when her legendary voice deserts her. At 15, the Manhattan-born Maria lands a place in the Athens Conservatory, where she'd moved with her mother after her father's infidelities became too much to bear. Her teacher, Elvira de Hidalgo, is unimpressed by the "pasty, half-blind girl in an ill-fitting smock" until she hears Maria's rich voice, "deep with emotion." Her talents become more widely recognized after she sings the difficult title role of Tosca at 18, an especially triumphant moment as she has to compensate for her nearsightedness by memorizing the position of every piece of furniture on the stage. After WWII, Maria returns to the U.S., where her performances with the Metropolitan Opera cause attendees to chant "La Divina" (the divine one), and their standing ovations last more than 20 minutes. Maria's personal life is more troubled, including her affair with Aristotle Onassis, and as her health declines, she fails to reach her earlier heights in her final performances. Charyn elicits sympathy for his complex lead through nuanced character work, and he manages to channel the excitement of Callas's performances. This is a marvel. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
As he did in The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, Charyn here reimagines the life of a complex and talented woman, this time the diva of divas, Maria Callas, known to legions of opera fans as La Divina ("the divine one"). Born in New York in 1923 and educated in Athens, she makes her stage debut in 1941 in a small role in a Greek production of Von Supe's Boccaccio, and in 1942 she lands a leading role in Puccini's Tosca. She relocates to Italy, where she contends for major roles in its opera houses that would bring her international fame and celebrity. Callas is a very private person, but as her star rises, her personal life garners unwanted attention, even after her untimely death at the age of 53. Charyn gives a voice to Callas in different stages of life, from awkward student to driven professional to passionate and often lonely woman. His fictional account of Callas's famous master class at Julliard recalls the drama of Terence McNally's Tony-winning play about the diva. VERDICT A bravura performance that hits all the right notes and is sure to delight opera devotees and fans of strong women characters.--Carolyn M. Mulac
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The tempestuous ups and downs of Maria Callas are captured in the latest of Charyn's fictionalized celebrity portraits. Preternatural artistic force, persecuted diva, emotionally abused daughter, demanding lover--they all are on display in this reimagined life of the ultimate diva. The novel opens in Athens, where 13-year-old Maria Kalogeropoulos has moved with her mother and sister from poor circumstances in New York to study with the once-notable Spanish coloratura soprano Elvira de Hidalgo. Maria's vocals immediately astound, especially coming from such a physically unprepossessing girl. With her hulking looks and headstrong personality, she must overcome the snippy disfavor of critics and fellow students. But with the Nazi invasion of Greece as a backdrop, her star rises through her relationships with powerful men including Aristotle Onassis--the love of her life, who sends her into deep despair by dumping her for Jackie Kennedy. All of these events and encounters and settings (including Venice) speed by in Charyn's nonstop narrative, daring the reader to keep up. Winston Churchill, incontinent and prone to violent fits, makes an appearance. So does Grace Kelly, whose smile, through Callas' eyes, is "fictitious" and who "could barely string together two sentences that made sense." Charyn is at his best getting inside the creative process, offering insight into Callas' mastery of bel canto and the unfixable "wobble" in her throat that helped define her. We learn how her poor vision prevents her from seeing the conductor's baton and requires her to memorize where everything is placed onstage. And then there's the key role played by her beloved canaries, singing partners to the end. More can be less in this overstuffed account, but it should be fine with Callas devotees. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
