Maria Callas was one of the most accomplished coloratura sopranos of the last century. She was instrumental in revitalizing opera with her dramatic skill, range and technique that left audiences spellbound. Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in America, her mother shifted to Greece. There, Maria began receiving formal training in opera singing. Her relationship with her domineering mother was strained. After World War II, she moved to Italy to launch her career there. Her Italian debut was a performance of ‘La Gioconda’ at the Verona Arena. Her performance in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ and ‘Turandot’ made her a celebrity figure in Italy. She has performed Bellini's ‘Norma’ many times. She married Giovanni Battista Meneghini, an industrialist, and toured South America. Her collaboration with the Italian genius, Tullio Serafin, was highly productive. Apart from performing at Milan’s La Scala, the most cherished and renowned of opera houses, she performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the New York Metropolitan Opera. Her affairs with business tycoon Aristotle Onassis, and separation from her husband took a toll on her personal life and career. Many performances got cancelled and this adversely affected her career. Her dramatic weight loss enhanced her beauty but seemed to have affected her voice. She was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy posthumously.