Callas’ Face

 

We watched Netrebko sing
And then heard but didn’t see
Maria Callas sing the same thing.
I have always loved Callas’ voice
But in this case not seeing her face
I had to imagine
The passion.

Netrebko sang so perfectly I almost
Forgot Callas facing
The audience with more anguish
Than I saw in Sutherland, Caballe,
Or Kiri Te Kanawa; yet
Callas isn’t in the Sinfini
Top Ten.  Listverse on the other

Hand describes
In poor prose
Her “magical quality”
And “a kind of soul.”
None of those above despite their precision
Were as great as Bellini, but Maria it seems to me
Comes close to what he must have meant.