Maria Callas, and what not to do for love.

Today is the 40^th death anniversary of Maria Callas.

A beautiful voice and great dramatical presence. She was the most popular soprano of her time and was nicknamed “The Divine”.

Born in New York City to Greek parents, she moved to Italy, where she finished her vocal studies.

She was admired and sought after by Kings, presidents, and personalities all over the world.

She married a much older man, that helped her advance her career.

During one of her concerts, the Greek tycoon Aristoteles Onassis was in the audience. He was enthralled by her voice and sent many, and I mean many flowers bouquets to her dressing room.

Onassis invited Callas and her husband to his lavish yacht, where he seduced her.

Onassis was a womanizer, a man that liked the conquest. And even that he treated Callas and everybody around him with disdain she fell in love with him.

She abandoned her career and husband to be with him. By the way, his wife divorced him too.

They affair lasted on and off for 5 years, even after he married Jackeline Kennedy their affair continued for a while. (but that is another story).

Onassis liked to flaunt his affairs and talk about his sex life in details. He was coarse and rude, and a womanizer. His main concern was to accumulate money and to surround himself with classy people to make himself look better.

Needless to say, when he left her for Jackelyn Kennedy she was devastated. She had no career, no money of her own, no nothing. In her devastation, she relied on pills to make herself feel better.

On September 16, 1977, she took one pill to many. Was it an accident or a suicide? nobody knows.

The moral of the story is that if a man asks you to leave your life, your career, and your family to prove that you love him. DON’T.

If a man really loves you, he would not ask such a sacrifice from you. If he loves you, he will respect you and support you and your career, and help you all along the way.

And if the man likes to talk with everybody about what you do or don’t do in bed, run as fast and as far as you can.

Every woman deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Do not end like Maria Callas.