The opera diva, Maria Anna Sophie Cecelia Kalogeropoulos (1923-1976) was born to Greek parents in New York City. When her parents divorced around 1937, Maria returned to Greece with her mother and studied at the National Conservatoire in Athens. After performing and cultivating her soprano voice in Europe, she moved to the United States and performed under the name Maria Callas. In 1956, Callas debuted at the Metropolitan Opera and her dramatic captivating performance was an overwhelming success. Unfortunately her tragic private life, most notably her stormy relationship with Aristotle Onassis, overwhelmed her career. Reclusive in her last few years, Callas died in 1976.