Simply said, Maria Callas is a lady, a voice, and a myth. In Montecitorio, in the same week as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the "Callas Tribute Prize New York" was dedicated to the American singer of Hellenic heritage, naturalized Italian, and afterwards Greek, with the help of the producer Dante Mariti. The awards ceremony will take place on November 28 in New York City, with Rai Italia providing broadcast coverage. Among the winners were Claudia Gerini and Katia Ricciarelli. "Callas appeared with a dramatic voice, a dramatic gesture, and a dramatic interpretation that made the characters much more consistent," the Italian singer explains. Ricciarelli states, "I never saw her in person, but when she passed away, I was singing Il Trovatore in Bilbao while unwell onstage." "We all imitated her somewhat. I did not want to accept that she had passed away ", she concedes. The singer then issues a warning: "We must not forget that we invented opera, melodrama, and I won't even mention my ex-husband," she adds, jokingly recalling the mantra of Pippo Baudo, the historical face of Italian television, before returning to seriousness: "Now, however, it is out of control because we lack the courage to help our young people".
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