When it comes to the world of high society and romance, few stories capture the imagination like that of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, and Jacqueline Kennedy. It is a tale that has been retold many times, yet it remains as captivating as ever. Did Onassis leave Callas for Jackie? Let’s look at the facts and try to unravel this intriguing love triangle.
The Early Years
The story begins in 1957 when Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy and charismatic Greek shipping magnate, met Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers of all time. At the time, Onassis was already married, albeit unhappily, to Athina Livanos, the daughter of another shipping tycoon.
Onassis and Callas were immediately drawn to each other. They shared a passionate love affair that was the talk of the town. The paparazzi followed them everywhere, documenting their every move. Their relationship was tumultuous, marked by jealous outbursts, heated arguments, and tearful reconciliations.
The Breakup
However, the fairytale romance was not meant to last. In the early 1960s, Onassis began to distance himself from Callas. He spent more and more time with Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, whom he had met at a party in 1963. Kennedy was immediately smitten with Onassis, and the feeling was mutual. They began an intense courtship that would eventually lead to marriage.
Callas was devastated by Onassis’ infidelity. She felt betrayed and humiliated. But even more than that, she was deeply hurt by the loss of the man she loved. In interviews, Callas spoke candidly about her pain, saying that she felt as if a part of her had died.
The Aftermath
Following the breakup, Callas’ career began to suffer. She had been one of the most sought-after opera singers in the world, but her performances became less frequent and her health began to decline. She withdrew from the public eye and spent much of her time alone.
Onassis and Kennedy, on the other hand, were enjoying a new level of fame and fortune. They were often photographed together, looking happy and in love. They traveled the world on Onassis’ luxurious yacht, the Christina O, and mingled with the rich and famous.
However, the marriage was not without its problems. Kennedy was still grieving the loss of her husband, and Onassis was often absent, attending to his business affairs. They also faced criticism from some quarters for their lavish lifestyle and perceived insensitivity to the plight of the less fortunate.
The Legacy
Onassis died in 1975, leaving a fortune estimated to be worth over $500 million. Kennedy inherited most of his wealth and lived a comfortable life until her own death in 1994. Callas died in 1977, at the age of 53. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest opera singers of all time.
The love triangle of Onassis, Callas, and Kennedy continues to fascinate people to this day. Some see it as a cautionary tale of the perils of infidelity and the fragility of love. Others view it as a testament to the power of passion and the enduring appeal of romance.
Conclusion
So, did Onassis leave Callas for Jackie? The answer, it seems, is yes. Onassis and Kennedy’s love affair was a whirlwind romance that captured the world’s attention. Callas, meanwhile, was left heartbroken and alone. Although the details of their story may be different from our own, it still resonates with us because it touches on universal themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness.
FAQ
What happened between Onassis and Maria Callas?
Maria Callas was one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. She was a controversial figure in the opera world, known for her temperamental behavior and tumultuous personal life. One of the most significant relationships in Callas’s personal life was with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who would go on to marry former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Callas and Onassis met in the early 1950s, and their relationship soon became the subject of intense media scrutiny. Onassis was married at the time, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing a relationship with Callas. They had a passionate affair that lasted for years, despite Onassis’s numerous affairs with other women.
However, their love affair came to an abrupt end in 1968 when Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of President John F. Kennedy. Callas was devastated by the news, and her health rapidly deteriorated. She lost a significant amount of weight and suffered from depression, anxiety, and insomnia. She eventually returned to performing, but her voice was never the same.
Callas’s relationship with Onassis was not the only tumultuous relationship in her life. Her mother blackmailed her and her husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, stole from her. Meneghini was often jealous of Callas’s success, and their marriage was reportedly unhappy. Callas later accused Meneghini of embezzling funds from her, which led to a highly publicized legal battle.
Despite her personal struggles, Maria Callas remains an icon in the opera world. Her voice was renowned for its emotional intensity and technical proficiency, and she had a significant impact on the world of opera. Her tormented personal life only added to her legend, and she remains a beloved figure for opera fans around the world.
Why was Callas fired from the Met?
Maria Callas, one of the most iconic and influential opera singers of the 20th century, was famously fired from the Metropolitan Opera (referred to as “the Met”) in 1958. The reasons behind her dismissal were complex and multifaceted, but it ultimately boiled down to a disagreement over which roles she would perform.
At the time of her firing, Callas was at the height of her career. She had become known for her intense interpretations of the bel canto repertoire (Italian for “beautiful singing”), which included works by composers such as Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. However, she was also eager to expand her repertoire and take on more dramatic roles.
The Met’s general manager at the time, Rudolf Bing, had other ideas. He wanted Callas to stick to the bel canto repertoire and perform in works like Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” and Bellini’s “Norma.” Callas, on the other hand, wanted to branch out and take on more demanding roles, such as Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” or Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.”
Tensions between Callas and Bing reached a boiling point in January 1958, when Callas withdrew from a performance of “Norma” at the last minute, citing illness. Bing was livid, believing that Callas had staged the illness to avoid performing a role she didn’t want to sing. Things continued to deteriorate from there, and just a few weeks later, Bing informed Callas that she was being let go from the Met.
The firing caused shockwaves in the opera world. Callas was already a beloved figure, and many saw the decision as a power move by Bing. Callas herself was devastated, feeling that she had been unfairly targeted for wanting to branch out and take on more challenging roles. However, she refused to go quietly and fought back against Bing and the Met in the media, ultimately gaining sympathy from the public.
Despite her firing, Callas continued to perform all over the world, becoming an even more legendary figure in the years to come. She was eventually rehired by the Met in 1965, and she returned to give two final performances of “Tosca” that are still talked about today. Her dismissal from the Met may have been a low point in her career, but it certainly did not mark the end of her influence or her legacy as one of the greatest opera singers of all time.
What happened to Maria Callas first husband?
Maria Callas, the renowned soprano, was first married to Giovanni Battista Meneghini, an Italian industrialist, in 1949. Meneghini was 17 years Callas’s senior and their marriage was initially seen as a strategic move for her career as it allowed her to secure the Italian citizenship she needed to perform at La Scala in Milan, one of the world’s most prestigious opera houses.
The couple was married for 10 years before they separated in 1959 due to irreconcilable differences. Callas had been having an affair with Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, for several years, which ultimately led to the demise of her marriage to Meneghini.
They eventually divorced in 1971, and Meneghini continued to live in Italy while Callas relocated to Paris and later New York. Despite the end of their marriage, Meneghini remained a staunch supporter of his ex-wife’s career and often attended her performances.
When Callas died suddenly in 1977, Meneghini was devastated. He was known to have suffered from heart trouble since hearing of her death, and he passed away just two years later in 1979.
Maria Callas’s first husband Giovanni Battista Meneghini played a significant role in her early career, but their marriage ultimately ended due to personal differences and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. Even after their divorce, Meneghini remained a steadfast supporter of Callas’s career until his death just two years after her own tragic passing.