Maria Callas Read by Our Lady J

Rebel Girls

Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Stories For Kids

4.5 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2026

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Once upon a time, there was a nearsighted girl who could sing like no other. Her name was Maria Callas. She came from troubled beginnings but grew up to become the most famous soprano in opera. Soon, she traveled the world, known simply as La Divina, the divine one, and moved audiences wherever she went. [This episode originally aired March 2018.] This episode of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is produced by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, with writing and operation support by Darby Maloney and Elyssa Dudley. Sound Design and Original Theme Music by Elettra Bargiacchi. Piano transcription: Margherita Colombo Our Lady J is a musician and writer known for her visionary gospel stylings and powerhouse pianist skills. In 2013, she released her first studio album, "Picture Of A Man," to critical acclaim and since then has delivered her new testament of post-religious gospel music to sold-out crowds around the world. OUT Magazine has named Our Lady J as one of their "Out 100," and the Huffington Post honors her on their list of “transgender icons.” She is now a writer on Jill Soloway’s ground-breaking television show, "Transparent" and Ryan Murphy's upcoming TV series "Pose."

Transcript

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0:00.0	Once upon a time, there was a near-sighted girl who had a phenomenal voice. Her name was Maria.
0:13.5	Maria was born to an unhappy home. Her parents had moved to New York City from Greece just a few months before she was born, but her
0:21.5	mother never wanted to leave her homeland.
0:24.7	And when she found out that her new baby was a girl, she didn't want her either.
0:32.3	Maria's mother had longed for a boy who could replace her beloved son who had died,
0:36.7	so Maria was a disappointment even before she could open her eyes.
0:41.5	Maria's parents fought constantly about money, about life in New York, and about their
0:46.3	unrealized dreams.
0:48.3	Her mother shouted.
0:50.6	Her father slammed doors.
0:52.8	And Maria didn't get much love from her big sister either.
0:56.0	Jackie was six years older.
0:57.7	She was slimmer and more beautiful, and Maria was sure her mother liked her more.
1:02.8	So Maria found comfort in music.
1:15.6	Her family had a gramophone, and her mother had a collection of opera records.
1:18.1	Maria listened to opera incessantly.
1:22.3	She'd get swept away into the enchanting world of the music,
1:25.5	and by the age of five, she began to sing along.
1:29.2	Maria didn't know what the words were, after all,
1:35.5	she couldn't speak Italian. But on an emotional level, she understood what they meant.
1:40.2	Through singing, Maria could feel what she couldn't share with her family.
1:50.0	La Traviata taught her about love. From Tosca, she learned despair, and Tordredot showed her the power of a trusting heart. And as she started to sing, something unusual happened. Her mother stopped and looked at her, in her dark eyes, as if for the first time.
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