UNIT 6 THE DIVA

Diva – Italian for goddess

Characteristics of a Diva

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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 STUDIESARE 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?