Elvira de Hidalgo

Elvira de Hidalgo (1898 Valderrobres (Spain), 1980 Milan (Italy)), was Maria Callas' most important voice teacher probably had the greatest influence on Maria's technique and career.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By the time Maria came to study with her at the Athens Conservatoire (during the second world war), de Hidalgo had already had a significant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

singing career as a coloratura soprano. It is interesting to note that the life of de Hidalgo encompasses the entire life and career of Callas; at the

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

time of Callas' death, de Hidalgo was still alive and teaching and was interviewed on the subject of Maria. She must have been in her late eighties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

by this time (1977).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are some recordings of de Hidalgo. Her "una voce poco fa" is typical of the singing of the excellently trained singers of the

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

turn of the century. Her timbre, ease of production and great agility are all hallmarks of the kind of singing technique which such teachers as

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mathilde Marchesi taught in the late 19th century. Clearly, Maria Callas received the rigorous and well defined training of this Italian school

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

of singing from her teacher. Callas' immaculate ornamentation, smooth scales, skillful use of her vocal registers all reflect the training of this vocal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

method.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It seems likely that Maria Callas also gained deep insight into expression, use of words, bringing the character to life through the voice and the music from this

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

teacher. It is known that Maria Callas attended the voice lessons of all her singing colleagues at the Athens Conservatoire, this is likely to have greatly informed

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

her own style and artistry, which were second to none.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~