Greek artist Nikos Floros created a breathtaking, three-meter tall sculpture of gold and bronze from the Maria Callas’ voice echogram. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
A monumental sculpture of Maria Callas’ voice in bronze and gold premiered recently in Dubai. The internationally renowned artist Nikos Floros transformed the Greek diva’s voice into sculpture using an innovative technique that captured the spectrogram of Maria Callas‘ voice into a material sculpture of bronze and gold.
The unveiling of this one-of-a-kind work of art took place in Dubai on September 19. The Greek artist named his work of art, “Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture”, after the famous aria of Vincenzo Bellini sang by Maria Callas.
Nikos Floros’ work is the first sculpture in the history of art that was born from the voice of Maria Callas. The recording of the great diva herself was transformed into a visual and material form, capturing the echogram of her voice in bronze and gold.
The work is not just a monument to the unsurpassed Maria Callas; it is a global innovation that allows everyone to “feel” her voice: For those who never had the opportunity to hear, a new path is opened: they can now see and touch the greatness of Callas’ voice. The sculpture captures in a unique way the essence and magic of Callas’ voice, creating a timeless artistic imprint.
Παγκόσμια Πρεμιέρα στο Ντουμπάι: Το πρώτο γλυπτό παγκοσμίως που δημιουργήθηκε από τη φωνή της Μαρίας Κάλλας Στις 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα αποκαλυπτήρια στην Όπερα του Ντουμπάι του μνημειώδους έργου του διεθνούς φήμης Έλληνα γλύπτη Νίκου Φλώρου, με τίτλο «Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture». Πρόκειται για το πρώτο γλυπτό στην ιστορία της τέχνης που γεννήθηκε από τη φωνή της Μαρίας Κάλλας. Η ίδια η ηχογράφηση της μεγάλης ντίβας μετατράπηκε σε οπτική και υλική μορφή, αποτυπώνοντας το ηχόγραμμα της φωνής της σε μπρούντζο και χρυσό. #dubaiopera🇦🇪 #dubai🇦🇪 #LegendaryLeader #HellenicLegacy #TikTokHistory
♬ آهات بشرية اسلامية – صمت – Islamic Sound – Calm – Voice of the soul – صوت الروح
“Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture”
The innovative “Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture” is 3 meters (9 ft.) high and weighs approximately 300 kilograms (660 pounds), made of bronze and gold, two elements which accurately capture the spectrogram of Callas’ voice. The three-dimensional representation of the voice creates a solid and imposing form, combining artistic abstraction with the scientific technology of converting sound into form. The work allows the viewer to visually and materially perceive the energy and expression of Callas’ voice, making it unique in the world.
The unveiling was made by the Director of the Dubai Opera, Paolo Petroccelli. The Greek artist and the director spoke emotionally about the significance of the work and its breathtaking effect. Art historian and curator Elpida Loukaides thoroughly explained the process and artistic imprint of the work.
The unveiling was attended by several people of letters and the arts from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Europe and the United States.
For the Greek artist, the presentation in Dubai takes on special significance: it is the second time that Nikos Floros has been officially invited by the Dubai Opera, confirming a long-standing cultural collaboration with the United Arab Emirates. The artist has painted the official portrait of the President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, a work from his personal collection, and has been honored as an Honorary Artist of the UAE in the context of the celebrations for the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the state.
This is the second time that Nikos Floros has sculped the Greek diva. In May, he unveiled a steel statue of Maria Callas that now graces the Opera Theater of Rome,in Italy, immortalizing the legendary soprano.
Under the auspices of the Greek Embassy
The sculpture presentation was under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Consul Panagiotis Kougias, delivered a speech at the unveiling, underlining the international value of Greek art and the presence of Nikos Floros’ work in Dubai.
The Dubai Opera Director emphasized that the presentation of the sculpture was combined with the premiere of Puccini’s opera “La Bohème”, in the context of the start of the Opera’s winter season. He said that several thousand visitors are expected to attend the opera in the coming weeks and will have the opportunity to see the specially created sculpture for Maria Callas up close, which presents her voice as a sculpture to the world for the first time.
Nikos Floros stated that, “The voice of Maria Callas cannot be disappear. Now it is transformed into a sculpture, into an eternal imprint. It is deeply moving to know that now, even people who cannot hear, can touch and feel this miracle.”
The world tour of the sculpture “Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture” starts from the Dubai Opera and will travel to major cities in countries around the world, including New York, Paris, Italy, Australia and Japan.