Marina Abramović brings to the stage a tribute to Maria Callas on the centenary of her birth. With Willem Dafoe

It will be staged on November 11, 2023 in the UK, at theEnglish National Opera in London, Marina Abramović ’s operatic project entitled 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, co-starring the famous US actor Willem Dafoe. The opera-performance aims to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Greek-born American soprano Maria Callas: the soprano’s death is recreated in this performance directed and performed by Abramović through some of the most famous arias from the world of opera.

Marina Abramović and co-star Willem Dafoe will die seven times in seven films. Seven singers, including Sarah Tynan (Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor), Elbenita Kajtazi (Tosca), Nadine Benjamin (Desdemona from Otello), Eri Nakamura (Violetta from La Traviata), Aigul Akhmetshina (Carmen), Karah Son (Cio-cio-San from Madame Butterfly) and Sophie Bevan (Norma) will perform famous arias by Bellini, Bizet, Donizetti, Puccini and Verdi, while Abramović herself will appear on stage. Each aria will be sung in the original language with the words in English displayed above the stage. These arias were all performed by Callas herself throughout her career. The opera concludes with an eighth and final death: the scene is set in a hotel room in Paris where the real Callas died.

The Serbian artist known for performances has always been fascinated by the figure of Callas, as art and life are intertwined and coexist in her. The arias will be accompanied by a series of short films starring Marina Abramović and Willem Defoe, so the show is a mix of performance art, film and classical arias by the soprano.

Also making his English National Opera debut for 7 Deaths of Maria Callas is Israeli-American conductor Yoel Gamzou; the opera will also include new music arranged by Serbian composer Marko Nikodijević.

A co-production of the Bayerische Staatsoper with the Greek National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opéra national de Paris, and Teatro San Carlo in Naples. With support from George & Patti White and The English National Opera Trust.

For more info: www.eno.org

Photo by Tristram Kenton.

Marina Abramović brings to the stage a tribute to Maria Callas on the centenary of her birth. With Willem Dafoe

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.