Review by: Carl H. Berggren
"The Colors of Callas" is more than just another book about celebrity.
Authors Taylor Pero and Patrick C. Byrne, through visual word pictures and fascinating stories have illustrated the eternal dilemma facing nearly every great artist the world has ever known: the conflict of owning oneıs self and one's art versus the frenzy of friends, family, and the public to possess their share of the artist and the art which sets them apart.
The purchase price comes to the artist in a variety of forms:head-spinning compliments, unbelievable wealth, public acclaim and lavish recognition so acute as to smother the victim. With enthusiastic graciousness, many seek to feed upon the glory and possessions of those Famous Ones who pour out their lives to satisfy the expectations and pleasures of others.
In the case of Callas, her acute perfectionism and devotion to her art resulted in consternation among her peers as well as her devouring public. They fought against her with recrimination of her stubborn insistence on recreating the lyric and music exactly as first written by the composer. What they failed to applaud was that it was that same insistence on perfection which propelled Callas to enthronement as the world's greatest coloratura. Over time, Callasıs great indomitable spirit was brought down by those whom she had politically alienated, by self-serving operatic controllers, and by the grueling performance demands which bit by bit shaved off the fine edges of her glorious vocal range and nuances. All of this added to the stigma of being mistress to the worldıs richest and most reviled man, Aristotle Onassis, and the public humiliation she suffered as her vocal instrument slowly abandoned her.
The vivid portrayal by the authors, without bias, of colorful events that paraded across Callasıs lifescreen, is a must-read for all who seek insight into the life of a great artist and the price one pays for the seeming riches and privilege they enjoy.
Alvaro in St. Cloud