Destiny (Divine Songbird)

Short true story about the first meeting between Maria Callas (then a struggling young singer) and her first husband, Gian Battista Menenghini, who became her manager, a meeting almost didn't happen..

Destiny

Verona, Italy, June 1947

 

  It had been a long day, and being both the director of and the co-owner with his brothers of the family business (they had brick factories) the fifty one year old Gian Battista Meneghini, had decided to forgo the meal that evening with his friends Gaetano Pomari and Giuseppe Gambato (both in the world of opera which he preferred to that of bricks, dust, cement and board meetings). He had to be up early tomorrow as per usual, and the dinner with the American soprano they had bought to dinner in the restaurant below the apartment that evening would have to wait for another time, even though it was in her honour. Half American and half Greek she was, a Maria Callas, who had come over from New York to sing La Giaconda. When he saw Gaetano tomorrow, he would propose that he take her and her companions to Venice on a sightseeing trip. That should please Gaetano, and would mean that he would get to meet the soprano when he wasn't so tired and not at his best. Tonight he would go up to the apartment (which he shared with Gaetano on account of his being requisitioned during the war), get the maid to make him something light to eat for dinner, read, bathe and then go to bed until tomorrow when he had to be up at 5.30.

  Gaetano was sitting with the American soprano and her companion; when he noticed Battista enter through the door of the restaurant, say something briefly to one of the waiters, look in their direction, before going through the small dark alcove which led to the stairs up to the apartment.

  Eventually the waiter, Gigiotti, made his way over and spoke to Gaetano.

  "Signor Meneghini sends his apologies, but he will not be joining you tonight."

  "What? Why not?"

  "He did not say Signor Pomari"

  "Please go and tell Signor Meneghini that he must come down to the restaurant. It is very important he meets Madam Callas. If he does not come down, I will be very angry with him." 

  "Yes Signor" Gigiotti said with an air of irritancy in his voice. He was there to bring food and pour wine; not to run errands for the apartment tenants, neither of whom ever tipped him.  

  The twenty-four year old Maria Callas looked up.

  "Is everything okay?" she asked.

  "Yes madam, the third member of our party, Gian Battista Meneghini will join us presently."

 

  Battista was about to put the key in the lock of the door, when Gigiotti appeared at the top of the stairs.

  "Signor Meneghini," he said politely, his voice trying hard not to betray the fact that he was irritated when he could be working for tips from people who chose to reward him. "Signor Pomari asks that you join him and his American guests in the restaurant."

  Battista ignored him, and went to put the key in the lock.

  "Please Signor you must come; Signor Pomari has asked for you."

  Battista ignored him, hoping he would get the message soon, and turned the key. The lock opened.

  "Signor, if you do not come, Signor Pomari will be very angry."

  Battista went to push the door open. He didn’t care if Signor Pomari was angry or not. He was the eldest brother of a large family, and he had seen action in World War I; threats did not scare him.

  "Please Signor. I do not know what to tell Signor Pomari and his guests, if you do not come."

  Battista pushed the door open and was about to go inside and slam the door, when he thought the better of it. He didn't have to stay long for the meal, he could just make his excuses after a while, have a glass of wine, something light to eat and leave. That would suit everybody. He took his hand away from the door, and it swung back with a resounding click which seemed to echo through the hallway and down the stairs.

  "Very well" Battista said. "I will join Signor Pomari and his guests."