Maria Callas’ story could easily begin exactly like a classic fairy tale, somewhere between the Ugly Duckling and Cinderella. It’s a tale without wicked stepmothers or magic wands, but it features a swan who, before realizing her true nature, went through hell at the hands of her own mother and her peers. It is a story woven with exile, war, doubt, sweeping romances, and glory—so much glory. Ultimately, this fairy tale speaks of a voice welling up from the darkest depths of the human soul. And it is a voice that continues to touch millions of souls today, 49 years after her passing.