Nadia Stancioff

The word "diva" is thrown around a lot lately. It seems any female singer in any genre who sells a lot of records gets called a diva. They wouldn't know a diva if she spit in their eye - and she would. Callas defined the word.

Stancioff was a friend of Callas', so don't expect a whole lot of objectivity. There's more dish than scholarship in this book, but that can be fun, too.

I'm mad for Callas; I think the single greatest opera recording ever was her Tosca with Giuseppe di Stefano and Tito show more Gobbi. God, that woman could sing, and act! And she gave us back bel canto! show less