Photofact: how opera diva Maria Callas turned into a ‘tigress’

In November 1955, Maria Callas performed in Chicago. Two screenings of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly were so successful that the opera diva was invited to perform an additional performance.

The real drama happened when the curtain was already down. U.S. Marshal Stanley Pringle and Deputy Sheriff Dan Smith stormed into Callas’ locker room and served him with a subpoena for breach of contract. Callas, who didn’t even have time to change after the performance, was furious. She exclaimed, “They won’t come after me! I have the voice of an angel! No one can sue me!

Maria ran down the hall behind the representatives of local authorities, and against the background of unfazed faces, her anger was especially noticeable. The singer’s eyes burned with hatred and her mouth twisted with rage. At that time, she was captured by a backstage photographer.

As soon as the photo appeared in the press, Callas was immediately nicknamed the “tigress”. The singer herself has sworn never to return to Chicago.

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