Latest news with #MariaCallas
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Fashionably Late, But Worth The Wait! New Opening Date Announced For DIVA At Auckland Museum
Press Release – Auckland Museum Exclusive international exhibition brings global icons to Auckland from Saturday 28 June This month, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum welcomes the spectacular international exhibition DIVA, with a new opening date announced for Saturday 28 June 2025. Exclusive to Auckland, DIVA is a bold celebration of iconic performers who have defined eras, challenged norms and changed the world through the power of performance. Developed by London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), DIVA showcases over 280 objects, including fashion, photography, costumes, music, and design, featuring trailblazing performers who have made their voices heard from the 19th century to today. Through theatrical staging and an immersive musical soundtrack experience, DIVA explores stories of the creativity, ambition, and resilience of some the world's best-known divas, from opera goddesses and silent movie stars to Hollywood legends and today's global megastars. Visitors will encounter legendary names from the worlds of opera, theatre, film, rock and pop music, including Maria Callas, Cher, Madonna, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Björk and Billie Eilish and many more. David Reeves, Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive of Auckland Museum, says DIVA promises to be a spectacular experience. 'We had an unexpected delay to DIVA due to our temporary closure in May, but our team has worked incredibly hard to get us back on track, and we're thrilled to now open DIVA on Saturday 28 June. ' DIVA is a tribute to those who've used performance to challenge convention and push boundaries. This is a celebration of the diva identity in all its power and complexity. 'Visitors will be up close with outfits and objects seen in countless iconic movies, pictures, and performances. The costumes are extraordinary in themselves, but they also represent powerful stories of immense talent, resilience, transformation and cultural revolution. 'These divas didn't just perform, they reshaped the stages they stood on and the world watching them,' says Reeves. Curated by V&A's Kate Bailey, DIVA explores the performer, not just as artist, but as an activist and trailblazer. The exhibition shows how divas leverage fame and spectacle to advocate for change, from civil rights to gender equality. Kate Bailey, curator of DIVA, said, 'Today the word diva holds a myriad of meanings. At the heart of this exhibition is a story of iconic performers who with creativity, courage and ambition have challenged the status quo and used their voice and their art to redefine and reclaim the diva. 'It's a privilege to tour DIVA to New Zealand. We are thrilled to be working with Auckland Museum and that this powerful story is being shared around the world. Viva La Diva!' says Bailey. From exquisite couture gowns and showstopping costumes to intimate personal items, visitors will journey through the worlds of some of history's most magnetic performers, and consider how the very idea of 'diva' has been redefined over time. The exhibition is split into two acts, the first traces the origin and legacy of the diva across opera, stage, and screen. The second act explores the construction of the modern diva through fashion, voice, image and political power. Included in the exhibition are over 50 diva looks that have rarely been on public display, including: a stage ensemble worn by Maria Callas as the title role of 'Norma' (1952); the fringed black dress worn by Marilyn Monroe as Sugar 'Kane' Kowalczyk in 'Some Like it Hot' (1959); the only known surviving dress worn by Clara Bow, rarely seen outside of the U.S; iconic costumes designed by fashion designer for the stars Bob Mackie, including looks worn by Tina Turner, P!nk and Cher; a Louis XIV inspired look with towering powdered wig and train worn by Elton John for his 50th birthday celebration, designed by Sandy Powell; and Shirley Bassey 's couture pink gown designed by Julien MacDonald including diamanté-studded wellington boots, worn on stage at Glastonbury (2007). For Auckland Museum's exhibition, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has lent her millennium coat, worn at the New Year's Day 2000 performance that was broadcast to one billion people around the world. DIVA is on from Saturday 28 June until Sunday 19 October 2025. Tickets are on sale now at Auckland Museum Membership provides unlimited free entry to DIVA, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only out more at: DIVA is a V&A exhibition touring the world. DIVA OPEN SAT 28 JUN – SUN 19 OCT 2025 ADULT $25, CHILD 5–15 $15, UNDER 5 FREE FAMILY (2 ADULT, 2 CHILD) $72 CONCESSIONS (ADULTS & SENIORS) $23 FREE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS DIVA is a dazzling celebration of the artists who have captivated audiences around the world, driven change, and redefined culture. This spectacular international exhibition comes exclusively to Auckland Museum from the V&A in London. Featuring over 280 objects, including show-stopping costumes, fashion, photography, and music, DIVA explores the power, ambition, and artistry of some of the most legendary performers in history. About the V&A The V&A is the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It was established to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers. Today, the V&A's collections, which span over 5000 years of human creativity in virtually every medium and from many parts of the world, continue to intrigue, inspire and inform.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Fashionably Late, But Worth The Wait! New Opening Date Announced For DIVA At Auckland Museum
Exclusive international exhibition brings global icons to Auckland from Saturday 28 June This month, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum welcomes the spectacular international exhibition DIVA, with a new opening date announced for Saturday 28 June 2025. Exclusive to Auckland, DIVA is a bold celebration of iconic performers who have defined eras, challenged norms and changed the world through the power of performance. Developed by London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), DIVA showcases over 280 objects, including fashion, photography, costumes, music, and design, featuring trailblazing performers who have made their voices heard from the 19th century to today. Through theatrical staging and an immersive musical soundtrack experience, DIVA explores stories of the creativity, ambition, and resilience of some the world's best-known divas, from opera goddesses and silent movie stars to Hollywood legends and today's global megastars. Visitors will encounter legendary names from the worlds of opera, theatre, film, rock and pop music, including Maria Callas, Cher, Madonna, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Björk and Billie Eilish and many more. David Reeves, Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive of Auckland Museum, says DIVA promises to be a spectacular experience. 'We had an unexpected delay to DIVA due to our temporary closure in May, but our team has worked incredibly hard to get us back on track, and we're thrilled to now open DIVA on Saturday 28 June. ' DIVA is a tribute to those who've used performance to challenge convention and push boundaries. This is a celebration of the diva identity in all its power and complexity. 'Visitors will be up close with outfits and objects seen in countless iconic movies, pictures, and performances. The costumes are extraordinary in themselves, but they also represent powerful stories of immense talent, resilience, transformation and cultural revolution. 'These divas didn't just perform, they reshaped the stages they stood on and the world watching them,' says Reeves. Curated by V&A's Kate Bailey, DIVA explores the performer, not just as artist, but as an activist and trailblazer. The exhibition shows how divas leverage fame and spectacle to advocate for change, from civil rights to gender equality. Kate Bailey, curator of DIVA, said, 'Today the word diva holds a myriad of meanings. At the heart of this exhibition is a story of iconic performers who with creativity, courage and ambition have challenged the status quo and used their voice and their art to redefine and reclaim the diva. 'It's a privilege to tour DIVA to New Zealand. We are thrilled to be working with Auckland Museum and that this powerful story is being shared around the world. Viva La Diva!' says Bailey. From exquisite couture gowns and showstopping costumes to intimate personal items, visitors will journey through the worlds of some of history's most magnetic performers, and consider how the very idea of 'diva' has been redefined over time. The exhibition is split into two acts, the first traces the origin and legacy of the diva across opera, stage, and screen. The second act explores the construction of the modern diva through fashion, voice, image and political power. Included in the exhibition are over 50 diva looks that have rarely been on public display, including: a stage ensemble worn by Maria Callas as the title role of 'Norma' (1952); the fringed black dress worn by Marilyn Monroe as Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk in 'Some Like it Hot' (1959); the only known surviving dress worn by Clara Bow, rarely seen outside of the U.S; iconic costumes designed by fashion designer for the stars Bob Mackie, including looks worn by Tina Turner, P!nk and Cher; a Louis XIV inspired look with towering powdered wig and train worn by Elton John for his 50th birthday celebration, designed by Sandy Powell; and Shirley Bassey 's couture pink gown designed by Julien MacDonald including diamanté-studded wellington boots, worn on stage at Glastonbury (2007). For Auckland Museum's exhibition, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has lent her millennium coat, worn at the New Year's Day 2000 performance that was broadcast to one billion people around the world. DIVA is on from Saturday 28 June until Sunday 19 October 2025. Tickets are on sale now at Auckland Museum Membership provides unlimited free entry to DIVA, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only out more at: DIVA is a V&A exhibition touring the world. DIVA OPEN SAT 28 JUN – SUN 19 OCT 2025 ADULT $25, CHILD 5–15 $15, UNDER 5 FREE FAMILY (2 ADULT, 2 CHILD) $72 CONCESSIONS (ADULTS & SENIORS) $23 FREE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS DIVA is a dazzling celebration of the artists who have captivated audiences around the world, driven change, and redefined culture. This spectacular international exhibition comes exclusively to Auckland Museum from the V&A in London. Featuring over 280 objects, including show-stopping costumes, fashion, photography, and music, DIVA explores the power, ambition, and artistry of some of the most legendary performers in history. About the V&A The V&A is the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It was established to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers. Today, the V&A's collections, which span over 5000 years of human creativity in virtually every medium and from many parts of the world, continue to intrigue, inspire and
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE As a child my stepfather abused me. Then, when I turned 18, he forced me to marry him. This is the insidious way he groomed me... before everything changed
At first glance, Suzie Kennedy appears to have led a charmed and successful life. The pinnacle of her globetrotting career as an actress was appearing with Angelina Jolie in last year's acclaimed film, Maria, about the life of Maria Callas. But it was one candid chat with the Hollywood star on set, before the cameras started rolling, that she particularly cherishes.
Irish Times
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Colm Keena on why it's not the lyrics, it's the voice that casts the spell
Sitting in the sunshine in the Wicklow mountains recently while having desultory chats with some friends, the conversation visited, momentarily, the topic of the great opera singer, Maria Callas, the subject of a recent biopic. There was mention of her fame, her being from Greece, her love of Paris, and her relationship with the Greek shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onassis. I for my part chipped in to say some argued it was because she had a far from perfect voice that it was so captivating. A perfect voice can run the danger of having no character, while others, perhaps less perfect, can be distinctive in a way that grabs your attention. 'Ah,' said one of the group - a diehard fan - 'like Dylan.' In his 2018 book, Innate: How the wiring of our brains shapes who we are, Kevin Mitchell, the associate professor of Developmental Neurobiology and Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin, wrote (if my brain is still functioning as well as I hope it is) about how each of us gets our unique chromosomal inheritance before going through a developmental stage in the mother's womb that involves a complex to-and-fro interaction between our genes, our developing body, and the mother's body, so that in the end out pops an individual different from all the other humans on the planet. READ MORE Given that there are currently approximately eight billion of us, and the existing population is subject to relentless churn, that's something. Not only that, but because each of us then proceeds to interact with the outside world by way of our unique body, and change and develop as we do, we become, so to speak, ever more unique. We are born different, according to Mitchell, and become more different as we go through life. It an interesting proposition, though all of us of a certain age who have watched our dearly beloved friends become more and more barmy as the years pass, already know it to be the case. It's nice to consider that not only is each person's fingerprint identifiable, but so is each person's face, and each person's singing voice. One day at lunch in our house my late mother, then almost 90, and even smaller and slighter than she'd been during the earlier decades of her life, agreed to give us a song having already endured (sorry!) the pleasure of hearing her grandchildren perform. The fact that her lungs may not have been servicing her vocal cords quite as efficiently as they used to did not diminish the aesthetic effect of the sound she produced. Quite the contrary. I had no memory of having heard her sing before, and the experience of hearing her sing then was powerfully moving and something I will never forget. I might say that I perceived her existence and her history in an entirely new way, but if someone probed that expression, I might find it hard to say what I mean. Nevertheless, while she was singing, my consciousness of her existence had a new and very moving quality. Callas, though she was never as groovy as my mother, can do that too. You just have to listen. The idea of our innate difference to one another was touched on by the writer, Hanif Kareishi, in the extraordinary tweets he posted from his hospital bed in Rome after he fainted and broke his neck in December 2022. Addressing the craft of writing, he advised writers that the characters they create should have fascinations and idiosyncrasies. This chimes with Mitchell's book. A character lacking idiosyncrasies can suck the air out of a story in much the same way a singing voice lacking character can suck the life out of the best of songs. Perhaps the attraction of a voice, or a face, lies in the individuality it reveals (which may explain why bizarrely white teeth, or Botoxed foreheads, can have the opposite effect to the one their owners aspire towards). For me, and obviously for millions of others around the world, the voice of the late, great Bob Marley has the special quality of making you want to listen. His colleague, Bunny Wailer, had a full, clear, impressive voice, but Marley's, to my ears a more delicate, weedier, voice, draws you in more. Sometimes his lyrics are about matters of Rastafarian belief that may not be of particular concern to non-believers. But it's not the lyrics, it's the voice, that casts the spell. Somebody that's not you, singing from the other side of the high garden wall, is making a sound you feel speaks to you precisely because it emphasises the individuality that is core to human nature.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Villa Treville Is One Of The Amalfi Coast's Most Iconic Hotels
Courtesy of Villa Treville First opened as a hotel in 2010, Villa Treville has quickly become one of the grand dames of the Amalfi Coast. A refined hotel with cinematic views of Positano, it sits on a vast terraced estate with enviable views of the seaside town. Here, you're close enough to feel fully immersed in the experience, yet far enough away to enjoy the idyllic setting without the crowds. A property with roots dating back to the 18th century, Treville was most famously owned by director Franco Zeffirelli who purchased the villa in the 1960s. The acclaimed film and opera director of hits including Romeo and Juliet (1968) and La Traviata (1982), added a theatrical touch to the estate with the help of his set designer, Renzo Mongiardino, who brought a Moorish flair to the Mediterranean property. Courtesy of Villa Treville Southern Italy, including the Amalfi Coast, was historically part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and retains its Arab heritage in architecture, design, and cuisine. At Treville, this legacy comes to life through the estate's Moroccan lanterns, which cast a warm, dreamlike glow across its rooms and gardens. Though primarily based in Rome, Zeffirelli spent his summers on the Amalfi Coast hosting friends and celebrities such as Maria Callas, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor and Rudolf Nureyev — the legendary Russian dancer who purchased a home on the private Li Galli islands, visible just offshore. The Zeffirelli Suite Today, Treville's 16 bedrooms and suites are named after these icons, along with Zeffirelli's legendary productions. Originally set within three villas ('tre ville') which are white, pink and blue, the hotel now boasts six villas which are connected by secret staircases, cobbled passageways and flower-lined trails. Each suite has its own character with a mix of historic touches and modern luxury. The Callas Suite The Callas Suite, with a turquoise and citrus color palette, features an outdoor terrace and private heated plunge pool beneath a shaded canopy, while the blue and white striped Bernstein Suite boasts a striking circular shower fitted within the property's historic brick bread oven. The Zeffirelli Suite, with four bedrooms and four en-suite bathrooms, is the crown jewel of the property with rare art and historic furnishings collected by the director, along with its own terrace and private heated plunge pool. The Callas Suite Many of Zeffirelli's original design elements have remained the same, including his ethereal white salon, a voluminous space entirely decorated in white tiles serving as a perfect retreat from Positano's intense sunshine. Today it has been reimagined as Bianca Bar, a botanical lounge where tradition meets innovation, and cocktails are mixed using distillers and herbs harvested from the property's gardens. Two panoramic terraces look out onto Positano and the sea, framed by leafy plants, colorful throw pillows and flapping curtains that add a touch of mystic to the whole ambiance. Arguably the most photogenic terrace in Positano, it has a feeling of exclusivity while remaining relaxed — like lounging at a friend's exclusive villa, with unpretentious service and thoughtful hospitality. Bianca Bar Following sunset drinks, guests gather at Maestro's, the property's romantic open-air terrace restaurant with ivy adorned columns and a tiled fountain at the center. Everywhere, Moroccan lamps cast a warm glow that enhance the scenic sunsets. Helmed by chef Vincenzo Castaldo, Maestro's focuses on seasonal dishes and regional classics using ingredients from the property's organic garden. The emphasis here is on elevated comfort food — from Spaghetti alla Nerano featuring fried zucchini tossed in a creamy parmesan sauce, and mozzarella-stuffed artichokes with black truffles to seared tuna with sautéed vegetables. Maestro's Restaurant Beyond the main property, lush gardens and winding pathways lead the guests down to The Rocks, a chic beach club that juts into the sea, offering perfectly framed views of Positano with its iconic blue umbrellas and striped sun loungers. This small oasis serves as both a tranquil retreat and the dedicated pier for the hotel's enhanced boat fleet, recently expanded with the addition of Treville Maritime's private yacht, the Wajer 38 Spectre. Another sanctuary is La Traviata, Treville's luxurious spa set in a sunlit greenhouse. The spa exclusively uses products by Dr. Barbara Sturm, who is a frequent guest of the property, celebrated for its restorative massages and treatments. Courtesy of Villa Treville A recent addition includes cold-water immersion therapy, with a cold plunge pool maintained at a brisk 50°F (10°C) that perfectly complements the spa's existing heat therapies. Another wellness highlight is the property's heated grotto pool which provides perfectly framed views of the sea. Treville remains a preferred hideaway for celebrities including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Sting who appreciate its luxurious amenities combined with a low-key vibe. Guests can arrive by road or, more discreetly, by sea. The hotel's private boat shuttle service also escorts guests from the hotel to Positano and beyond on a complimentary basis, providing convenient access while showcasing the Amalfi Coast's legendary views. The Rocks beach club How To Reach Positano Sorrento Car Tours provides transfer services and excursions throughout the Amalfi Coast, including Naples to Positano (1.5 hours). They can also arrange nearby sightseeing tours to visit Amalfi, Ravello and beyond.
