Maria Callas embodies ‘Vissi d’arte’: a life for art.

As the prima donna of the 20th century, Callas lived the sentiment captured by Tosca in her aria ‘Vissi d’arte’. Tosca has defeated her adversary, but the future is a dark, gathering storm and she reflects on her life. Callas’ expression of the confluence of art and life has long fascinated internationally renowned performance artist, Marina Abramović. Now, Abramović’s celebratory opera project, 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, receives its UK premiere.

The deaths of ‘the Tigress’, as Callas was called, are recreated featuring some of the arias* that were most important to the singer. In the production of 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, Marina Abramović and co-performer Willem Dafoe will die seven times in seven films. Seven singers including Sarah Tynan, Elbenita Kajtazi, Nadine Benjamin, Eri Nakamura, Aigul Akhmetshina, Karah Son and Sophie Bevan perform well-known arias by Bellini, Bizet, Donizetti, Puccini and Verdi while Abramović herself appears on stage.

Israeli-American conductor, Yoel Gamzou, makes his ENO debut after premiering the production in Munich, Athens, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and Naples. The opera will also include new music arranged by Serbian composer Marko Nikodijević. This staging marks 100 years since the American-born Greek soprano’s birth.