The Diva between Myth and Truth: Around Maria by Callas by Tom Volf

Abstract

Conceived and executed by Tom Volf, the Maria by Callas project includes an exhibition, a documentary, and three books. According to the author, they are united by the purpose of returning Maria Callas (1923-1977) the prerogative of “telling her own story in her own words”. In fact, one of the distinctive features of the project is the systematic use of the artist’s spoken, written, or sung words. But there is more: the project reveals a plethora of unpublished documents, including “private Super 8 films, unknown photographs, pirate recordings, intimate letters, and lost interviews.” The project’s novelty would then be attested not only by the authenticity of the testimony but also by the uniqueness of the materials. Despite the merits of the exhibition and the documentary, the project raises numerous questions, particularly regarding the claim of truth in the document and the testimony. Is not this claim of truth itself a myth? Furthermore, the project embodies a paradox that tells us a lot about the desires and fears of our era. On the one hand, copies, images, traces, and the diversification of strategies that make them visible and audible are valued; on the other hand, this valuation is based on the figures of the original: truthfulness, authenticity, transparency. This article is dedicated to the analysis of this paradox, as well as the critical assessment of this project in the context of a broader reflection on the survival and intensification of the myth of Callas in the 21st century.