Jewels, worn by Maria Callas during performance, made of bronze and glass which belong to Swarovski will be on exhibition at the opening of the Mara Callas Museum at Technopolis in Athens, its president Fotis Ignatou announced last week.
Thirteen unique and handmade jewels, which Maria Callas wore in different roles are owned by Swarovski in Milan.
The Italian jeweller has agreed to the jewels being exhibited in the museum for five years. The new museum dedicated to the great opera diva is expected to be opened in two months by Nikitas Kaklamanis, the mayor of Athens.
The 380 square metres round building is modernly furnished.
Among the objects, which will be displayed are: “one leather chinchilla coat, the wig, which she wore in “Medea,” a personal photo album, gramophone records, and all publications about Callas, which have been on the market around the world, including in Japan.
The objects are owned by individuals in Greece and abroad and some are bought by the municipality in a tender, which took place in Paris during 2000.”
The opening of the new “Maria Callas” museum happened at the same time as the opening of the opera singers competition “Grand Prix Maria Callas 2009.”
52 opera singer are participating and the final round will take place on March 15th in Megaro Mousikis.
The prize is a gold medal together with 9 000 euros and concerts in Greece and around the world.