Six opera gowns worn by Maria Callas onstage at La Scala in Milan are on display at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibition “Callas at La Scala.” The exhibition, located within the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, features costumes from roles including Anna Bolena and Ifigenia, alongside costume sketches by designers Nicola Benois and Piero Tosi and photographs of Callas. Students from the Corcoran School, guided by assistant professor Tanya Wetenhall, contributed by researching, writing labels, and installing the show, while ambassadors from Greece and Italy spoke at the opening.
This exhibition matters because it brings iconic operatic costumes to the United States for the first time, highlighting the intersection of visual art, design, and performance. It also demonstrates how museums can engage students across disciplines, from costume history to museum studies, in hands-on curatorial work. The involvement of the Italian Cultural Institute and embassies underscores the role of cultural diplomacy, while the focus on Callas’s legacy reinforces her enduring influence on opera and stagecraft.