Maria Callas was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest personalities on the 20th century. The Greek American opera Diva owned the headlines for her performances on stage, as well as her life off stage.
The magic of her personality made her every performance noteworthy.
In 1974, Callas gave her last public performances ever at Carnegie Hall in New York City—two joint recitals with the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano, the last one taking place on April 15.

Left: The poster for Maria Callas’ last public performances in 1974 at Carnegie Hall. Right: Nicolette Mavroleon (left) and Alexandra Loutsion (right) perform a tribute to Callas at the Gabby Awards at Carnegie Hall on June 17, 2017.
After the show, the media panned Callas, calling her washed out and having lost her voice after years of singing and personal battles with various health-related issues.
Callas responded with grace.
“You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.”
On June 17th, decades after Maria Callas’ last public performance, two Greek American opera singers– Alexandra Loutsion and Nicolette Mavroleon, walked on that same stage at Carnegie Hall and paid tribute to the opera legend at the 2017 Gabby Awards.
The excitement and awe actually began backstage during hair and make up prep when Alexandra admired Callas in a photograph on the wall that featured those who had walked those very backstage corridors and dressing rooms at the iconic New York City venue.

Alexandra Loutsion, backstage at Carnegie Hall preparing for her tribute to Maria Callas at the 2017 Gabby Awards
At the end of a beautiful musical tribute that was accompanied by a video chronicling Callas’ life and career, the duo brought Maria’s fiery personality to life in a session of “dueling divas.”
Watch their performance here: