"I am preparing a film version of "Medea"," mentioned the film producer Franco Rossellini to his young, back then, film studio cooperator Nadia Stancioff. "Who would you recommend for the leading part?". "Anna Magnani or Irini Pappas," was the quick response of Stancioff but the producer had already decided: "The part is given to Maria Callas." Nadia Stancioff had to travel to Turkey, in order to meet the opera diva. This journey in the far 1969 put a beginning to a friendship, which continued until Maria Callas' death on September 16, 1977.

Actually, what am I talking about? Can death put an end to friendship? Of course not! And this is proven by Nadia Stancioff herself, who in 2009 published her memoires and interviews with people close to Callas. The book is called "Maria Callas remembered". Two months later, right before the 32 year anniversary after Callas' death, the memoire is published also in Greek - "Μαρία Κάλλας για Πάντα," (Maria Callas Forever) by Zaharopoulos publishing house.

After meeting during the filming of Medea, Nadia Stancioff becomes one of Callas' closest collaborators and a shoulder to lean on during the singer's separation with Aristotle Onassis. The book of the Bulgarian is dedicated precisely to the passionate, not that known and very vulnerable friend Callas. "Maria was extremely confident in herself and in her talent. I admired the way she fought for her professional interests, which she always discussed in Italian and English. Once she started talking in Greek, she changed. She started losing her confidence and became vulnerable. With Aristotle Onassis, she always spoke in Greek," remembers Nadia Stancioff.

Aristotle Onassis. The big love and big tragedy in the diva's life. During one of her last summers in Greece, Callas admitted in front of her friend that she was pregnant from the rich Greek but he insisted on terminating the pregnancy with the argument: "I already have two children. There is no place for a third one in my life." Who knows? Maybe this was his fatal mistake? Maybe one child from Maria Callas would have changed the tragic destiny of the Onassis family? Who knows. Actually, read Nadia Stancioff's book. If not learning the answers to those questions, you will learn about many moments of the singer's life, which you never knew. One example is the opera diva singing Beatles and Mexican songs in small taverns in Greek islands during the peak of her fame...