prima donna

Look up prima donna in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Originally used in opera companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady". The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano. The corresponding term for the male lead (almost always a tenor) is "primo uomo".^[1]

Legendarily, these "prima donnas" (prime donne in Italian) were often regarded as egotistical, unreasonable and irritable, with a rather high opinion of themselves not shared by others. Although whether they are truly more vain or more hot-tempered than other singers (or than any other people in the opera houses) is not substantiated, the term often describes a vain, obnoxious and temperamental person who, although irritating, cannot be done without.^[2]

Famous prima donnas have often caused opera enthusiasts to divide into opposing "clubs" supporting one singer over another. The rivalry between the respective fans of Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi, for example, was one of the most famous of all opera, despite the friendship of the two singers.^[3] In recent times the term prima donna has almost become a synonym of diva and is used to designate popular female opera singers, especially sopranos.

"Prima Donna" is also the title of a song in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, The Phantom of the Opera. It refers to the character, Carlotta Giudicelli, an ill-tempered soprano.

References

Further Reading

• Rupert Christiansen, Prima Donna: A History, Viking, 1985. ISBN 0670804827