Montblanc Maria Callas Special Edition
The undisputed queen of opera prima donnas, the divine Callas, was born 100 years ago. Her enduring fame is reflected in the fact that a film about her life, starring Angelina Jolie, is currently being shot in Budapest. What could be more topical than the soprano singer who experienced love, betrayal, and suffered an early death—both on stage and in real life?
The high priestess of the druids steps before her people, who are preparing to fight against the soldiers of the oppressive power, to ask the gods for help in winning the battle. However, the enemy is led by her secret lover, the father of her children. She has just learned that a young girl belonging to her order is about to run away with the man she loves.
This is how Bellini's opera Norma begins, in which Maria Callas became known to opera audiences in the title role. During the famous aria Casta Diva (roughly translated as "Immaculate Goddess"), Norma is torn by conflicting emotions: she feels love, a desire for revenge, and gnawing jealousy, while also worrying about the fate of her own people.
Of course, it was a long road to the stages of the world's greatest opera houses. He was born in New York in 1923, the child of Greek immigrants. Exclusion and deprivation became fundamental experiences for him. As a teenager struggling with significant weight issues, she moved to Athens with her mother, where they were caught up in World War II. She studied music and entertained soldiers with her singing. She was able to support her family with the meager compensation she received.
She returned to New York during the Hungarian uprising in October 1956. She arrived at the Metropolitan Opera as a diva, having lost 30 kilos and with a wafer-thin waist. She appeared on the cover of Time magazine, the only woman to do so that year.
At the height of her success, she meets another Greek celebrity of her time, international investor and fleet owner Onassis. Their love affair lasts for 10 years, until he finally breaks up with her for Jackie Kennedy, the widow of the American president. Callas then lives in seclusion in Paris.
Bellini's Norma chooses death and follows her lover to the stake, even though he has betrayed her. Shortly after Onassis' death, Maria Callas is found unconscious in her apartment under circumstances that remain unclear to this day. She dies in hospital that same day, and her ashes are scattered in the Aegean Sea.
In October 2023, Montblanc pays tribute to cultural icon and opera legend Maria Callas with the latest edition of its Muses collection. The collection has previously commemorated actresses such as Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe.
In addition to traditional fountain pens, rollerball pens and ballpoint pens have also been added to the collection. Each design evokes the singer's enviable figure with its graceful appearance.
Of course, the references to Callas do not end there. The aesthetic characteristics of the writing instruments radiate the same elegance and lightness that captivated her contemporaries. The luxury goods manufacturer has also sought to reflect Callas' personal choices in clothing and jewelry.
The turquoise coating on the pens refers to the soprano's favorite color, which she also liked to wear as a necklace in the form of a mineral called turquoise.
The blue stone at the end of the cap clip evokes the petals of her favorite flower, the rose, while its color brings to mind the Aegean Sea off the Greek coast.
The pattern at the end of the pen nib depicts the leaves of a laurel wreath, which Callas wore on several occasions in the role of Norma, and which can also be seen on the covers of contemporary recordings. Maria Callas' signature can be seen under the laurel wreath.
The fountain pen has a 14-carat solid gold nib coated with rhodium, on which we see the diva's mesmerizing cat's eyes, with the inscription "La Divina," meaning "the divine one," underneath. This was one of the nicknames chosen for her by her enthusiastic fans.
The collection, consisting of fountain pens, rollerball pens, and ballpoint pens, is complemented by a turquoise notebook.
