The beautiful four-story building on Patision Street, where lived Maria Callas, conserved but abandoned for years, will “come alive” again and even house the “Maria Callas” Academy of Lyrical Art. The Municipality of Athens, through the “Regeneration of Athens” company, has announced an open tender for its restoration and reconstruction, so that it emerges as a living cell and takes the place it deserves in the city (the possibility of submitting bids has been set until Tuesday, September 12). Now, with the insistence of the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and the head of the Academy, soprano Vassos Papantoniou, the project is moving to the next stage.

“Athens needs to save its most beautiful buildings, such as this unique architectural gem, where Maria Kallas spent her childhood. We want to give them a new lease of life, so that they can open their doors again, and become accessible to all Athenians”, said Mr. Bakoyannis and continued: “We are very happy that such a building of historical importance is on the road to restoration , justifying our persistence, but also the long-term efforts of the administration of the Academy of Lyric Art and especially its president Vassos Papantoniou. The house of Maria Callas will shine again, to house the Academy and the dreams of all those who love Lyrical Art”.

For her part, Mrs. Papantoniou said: “Our faith justified our effort. We are today at the historic moment, when the building on Patision Street, where Maria Callas lived, will regain its lost identity. A gift for the hundredth anniversary of her birth. I would also like to thank, on behalf of the Board of Directors, the mayor of Athens, Mr. Costas Bakoyannis, who suggested our request to the former Minister of Development, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, and contributed to his support for the NSRF to be given, for the restoration of the building . “Regeneration of Athens”, an organization of the Municipality of Athens, has undertaken the actions and the selection of the contractor, through a tender.

The general secretary of the Academy of Lyrical Art and former Member of State Vassilis Vassilikos, having followed the long process of the search to find the institutions that will help in the implementation of this historic project, pointed out: “I would like to congratulate Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, as well as Mr. Kostas Bakoyannis, who made a catalytic contribution to the inclusion in the NSRF, the reconstruction of the building at 61 Patision Street and the current announcement of the Tender, through the “Regeneration of Athens”. The emblematic four-story building, due to its architectural value, but also its connection with the leading Greek soprano, is characterized as a work of art that needs special state protection.”

The listed building on Patision Street

The building in question is a conservation area of ​​1,442 sq.m., of excellent architectural aesthetics, Jugendstil influence and is located in the “heart” of Athens. It is recorded in the collective memory as “Kalla’s house”, as the leading tweeter lived in it during her childhood, when in 1937 she returned from America with her family until 1945.

With the acceleration of the procedures by the Municipality of Athens for its restoration, a double purpose is achieved. To revive the historic house in which Maria Callas lived, but also to operate an educational institution for Lyrical Art. In order for the decades-abandoned building to function and to house the Academy of Lyric Art, work on the restoration of the facades and the roof, as well as all the preserved parts of its interior, will be preceded.

Also, where required, the reconstruction of the internal load-bearing structure, damaged by the earthquake and by an earlier fire on the first floors, will be strengthened. The building that will be created will meet all the modern functional and construction specifications for the specific use, while its use by people with disabilities and mobility difficulties has been foreseen.

After its restoration, the building will be handed over to AMKE “AKADMIA LYRIKIS TECHNIS MARIA CALLAS”, in order to house the Academy of the same name, which will provide comprehensive music education at a university level in Lyric Art. The Academy will teach methodically and with concentrated all the skills related to the Lyrical Art, something that is missing not only in Greece, but also in many academies abroad.

The important element of the connection of the building with the period of musical studies and the early career of the Greek soprano, will contribute to the promotion of the activities of the Academy of Lyrical Art “Maria Callas”, which will provide studies recognized and equal to those musical Academies and Schools of Europe, upgrading music education in Greece. The Academy is expected to contribute to the creation of a strong cultural brand for the city of Athens, in conjunction with the operation of the new “Maria Callas” Museum and the Municipal Music Theater of the same name by the Municipality of Athens.

The project for the restoration of the building has a budget of 6,869,600 euros and is financed by the Operational Program “Transport Infrastructures, Environment and Sustainable Development” with a percentage of public expenditure of 100%.