UNIT 6 THE DIVA Diva – Italian for goddess Characteristics of a Diva Learn more about music Are all singers Divas?

What is A Diva? Classical Music – Diva – person of supreme talent- vocal faculty and conveys nuances of music Generally opera music singers Almost larger than life Negative – demanding, difficult to work with Sir Charles Mackerras describes the diva thus: There has to be something unusual as well as competent about a diva, something compelling about her personality, whether you like it or not, whether it be charming or repellent ... or both at the same time. (quoted in Matheopoulos, 1998, p. xix)

4 Case studies Madonna – manipulated media – controlled public image ARE THEY ALL DIVAS? Madonna – manipulated media – controlled public image Young Soprano – challenges of an opera singer- what makes a singer Maria Callas – mid 20thC – public life – tragic roles – La Divina Ferrara Ladies – end 16thC – no public appearance- very few people heard them- writings about them and modern recordings.

MADOnna Attention- Number One hits – more than any other woman Nominated and awarded Sold over 300 million records Maverick – her own production company Voice – Material Girl and Like A Prayer - thin and lacking power - strong and rich; developed and matured; use of voice, chorus, music and video Author – producer – entrepreneur - a powerful woman, successful, role model Image/ Persona - star appeal; continually manipulate and change her image Mass media – exploited video for promotions

Madonna – A diva Musical and Vocal Talent Image Powerful Female Themes and Style of her Music

Some Musical language Aria – Italian for song; repetition of text Legato – Smooth music Ornament – decorate a long note Vocal control and musicality Phrases – parts Accompaniment – musical or vocal support Texture – music blending together Pizzicato – plucking Dynamics – Volume - piano(softly), pianissimo (very softly) - forte( loudly), fortissimo (very loudly) Recitative – a style of singing close to speech; no repetition of text

Maria Callas Biography – Chronology (Pg. 192) - short international career - sudden loss of weight - divorce - Onassis A parallel to tragic roles on stage As a Singer – Tosca (Pg.193,track 5) - sensitive way of acting the words as she sings them - emotional range The Music – disjointed text; music as glue; orchestra; use of repetition Prestige and the Opera House National heritage; Part of culture; similar to football Opera houses – grand, expensive Opera singers – glamorous – play the part on stage and in life

The Royal Opera house

The ferrarese ladies Northern Italian town of Ferrara- Duke Alfonso Ensemble – group of singers; private concerts; courtly music by the finest composers Luzzasco Luzzaschi – most celebrated composer - madrigals – secular songs - harpsichord music 4 women – virtuosic female singers Concerto delle donne - made courtiers because of musical ability - ladies-in- waiting to his 3rd wife Madrigals – imitation (Pg.187) - word painting (track 6) Singing – not liked by everyone; sang anything; small audience (Pg. 195-196) Historical Voices – contemporary accounts, written music - reliable? - more about setting than singing ability - 6.8 –Striggio – knows what it is like - printed music- shows the difficulty.

conclusion Each one worthy of title Diva? Sir Charles Mackerras describes the diva thus: There has to be something unusual as well as competent about a diva, something compelling about her personality, whether you like it or not, whether it be charming or repellent ... or both at the same time. (quoted in Matheopoulos, 1998, p. xix) All Competent in their fields All musical standards of a Diva?