Primadonna

A Prima Donna ( Italian, actually " first lady " ) is considered the "first" singer of an opera company. While in the past always referred to the coloratura singer as such, the first dramatic opera singers were thus dubbed over time.

History

Since the 17th century the most important singer of an Italian opera company was called Prima Donna. Handel was the tone of a soprano in the 18th century. So two prima donnas were employed at his opera house. These included: Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni. When two equal- singers also between Prima Donna assoluta ( absolute Prima Donna ) and Prima Donna was distinguished altra (second prima donna ).

The prima donnas were in the 19th century more and more popular among citizens and displaced the castrati were no longer allowed to sing in public opera houses at the end of the 18th century, whose singing was the most popular opera voice earlier. The most important male singer to designated accordingly as Primo uomo (Italian: first husband ).

Prima donnas were the press and the public often called divas (Italian: Diva = goddess ). A Prima Donna was usually permanently employed at a theater or opera house and took many leading roles, sometimes all of the major roles of the playing pieces on each opera house.

Figurative meaning

Prima donnas often been considered as particularly capricious. Rivalries between prima donnas such as Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi always found a large audience interest. Today, the term in its original sense is seldom use, on the other hand refers to difficult, from himself occupied women or men occasionally " prima donna way " as.