Casta Diva: The Life, Loves & Music Of Maria Callas at Cork Opera House

Casta Diva is Niall Morris's new hit show, honouring the legacy of the great opera diva Maria Callas. It stars the sensational Irish soprano Mairead Buicke as Maria Callas, fresh from her English National Opera debut and her critically acclaimed portrayal in the title role of 'Tosca' in the UK last year.
The internationally acclaimed tenor, James Edwards, and superb Irish baritone Simon Morgan, play the men Maria's life.

Callas' life story had all the sensational and tragic elements of an operatic role. With her extraordinary gifts, she rose quickly to the top of her profession and became the queen of the world's opera houses. But a chance meeting at a party in Venice changed everything, for it was there that she met Aristotle Onassis, the richest man in the world, for whom she left her husband and put her singing career on hold. Onassis kept her waiting for years but then, in a cruel twist, announced his marriage to Jaqueline Kennedy, the widow of the President of the United States. Maria's heart was broken and, even when he eventually returned to her, it was too late. Her voice was gone and she died a recluse in her Paris apartment, aged just 53.

The diva's fascinating and ultimately tragic life story is cleverly intertwined with scenes from the much loved opera such as La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, La Traviata and Carmen.

In the last 12 months 5,000 people have attended "Casta Diva - The Life, Loves and Music of Maria Callas" - the captivating life story of one of the world's greatest opera divas.