Maria Callas was an American-born Greek operatic soprano. Her career took off in 1942 with her leading role in Tosca at the Athens Opera and subsequent engagement for La Gioconda at the Arena in Verona, Italy. She also performed at La Scala. Her operatic recordings include Bizet: Carmen with Nicolai Gedda and Georges Prêtre and Pure Maria Callas. Callas' most popular songs include Ave Maria and Casta diva; she also recorded Carmen, Act I: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) [Carmen, Chorus] with Georges Prêtre and the Paris Opera Orchestra. She died in 1977.