Star soprano or Star Wars? Classical music fans weigh in on the new Maria Callas statue

18 October 2021, 12:17 | Updated: 18 October 2021, 12:38

Maria Callas has been immortalised in a new statue in Athens, but the bronze figure has hit a bit of a bum note.

At the foot of the ancient Acropolis of Athens stands a bronze statue of Maria Callas, facing the venue at which the opera star made her professional debut.

But when the Greek capital’s mayor Kostas Bakoyannis unveiled the 1.8 metre-high centennial piece of art last week, it wasn’t quite the immortalisation many had envisioned for La Divina.

In fact, it’s already been compared to the likes of Star Wars’ bumbling droid C-3PO and relentless killing machine, The Terminator.

Callas’ golden effigy has even been dubbed as “Ghandi in heels”.

Read more: 12 pictures proving Maria Callas was the most glamorous opera star of all time

Callas was born in Manhattan, New York, but received her musical education in Athens. She made her professional debut in February 1941 as Beatrice in Franz von Suppé’s operetta Boccaccio, with the Greek National Opera.

So naturally, the country wanted to immortalise the celebrated 20th-century soprano on their own soil, in a spot which holds historic significance for the soprano.

But their attempts haven’t struck the right chord.

One person on Twitter said how passersby looked on in horror, commenting: “It looks like The Terminator”.

Read more: Netflix places a statue of Mozart’s sister to celebrate history’s overshadowed women

Comparisons to anything Star Wars-esque have been aplenty, too.

Most haven’t minced their words on the subject...

Some have even put their meme-making hats on.

But the feedback hasn’t all been negative.

Twitter user George Vardas has defended the sculpture, arguing the “contemporary adaptation” only adds to the soprano’s “mystique”.