Maria Callas sings for the first time at the Metropolitan, New York, in Norma, followed by Tosca and Lucia.
1957 - September
Elsa Maxwell, the American society hostess, introduces the Meneghinis to the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis at a party in Venice.
1958 - 2nd January
Pleading illness, Callas cancels after the first act of a gala performance of Norma in Rome, attended by the President of Italy and all of Rome society; she is harshly criticised in the media.
1958 - May
At La Scala during performances of Il pirata she quarrels with the general director, Antonio Ghiringhelli, and decides not to appear again at La Scala while he remains in charge.
1958 - 6th November
Rudolf Bing, director of the Metropolitan Opera, fires Callas after failing to reach agreement with her on performances for the next season.
Next: Maria Callas Biography: A Triumph in Paris and the "Onassis Years"
