cover image Maria

Maria

Nadia Stancioff. Dutton Books, $19.95 (258pp) ISBN 978-0-525-24565-0

A publicist who met Maria Callas in 1969, when the opera singer was filming Medea, here describes their friendship during the next eight years and disputes myths about Callas. She focuses on the troubled woman rather than on the glamorous diva. Based on interviews with, and largely in the words of, colleagues (like the basso Nicola Rossi-Lemeni), friends and Callas's sister Jackie (who always refers to the singer as Mary), Stancioff describes a vulnerable woman with weaknesses and uncertainties as well as strength and pride, with limitations and inconsistencies as well as courage and determinationa woman of intelligence but no intellect, addicted to TV and films rather than books, a short-tempered actress overconscious of her heavy legs, a wealthy superstar who cadged taxi rides but spent lavishly on clothes. Photos not seen by PW. (September 16)