Séance with Maria Callas

sound installation, texts and voices created using artificial intelligence, 24 min., 2024

Visitors are invited to be guests at a 24-minute séance in which the spirit of Maria Callas is conjured up and questioned.

The séance leader is Mr D., the grandson of the musicologist Edward Downes, who interviewed Maria Callas in November 1967. Maria Callas‘ ghost approaches, slips into the tabletop and then speaks from the tabletop.

Mr. D. asks Maria Callas questions about the beginning of her career, her way of working, her voice, her private life, various rumours about her and the decline of her voice at the end of her career. Maria Callas not only answers these questions, but also questions about events after her death.

Both Maria Callas‘ voice and the content of her answers were created using artificial intelligence.