The trope of the demanding, drama-loving diva is everywhere throughout the history of stage, screen, music and more. But a new exhibition celebrates the diva for what she really is – fabulous, writes Deborah Nicholls-Lee. Davis wrote in her memoir, The Lonely Life, “I have always been driven by some distant music — a battle hymn no doubt — for I have been at war from the beginning. I was going to conquer the world.” Her determination for cinematic excellence is outlined here, loud and clear.
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It is derived from the Italian word ‘diva,’ which means ‘goddess’ or ‘female deity.’ In the world of opera, the term ‘diva’ was historically used to refer to the leading female singer, often the soprano, who typically portrayed the central female character, often a heroine or a mythological figure. These women were considered the stars of the show, possessing exceptional talent, confidence, and sometimes demanding personalities. Over time, the term ‘diva’ has broadened to describe not only talented female singers and performers but also individuals, regardless of their profession, who exhibit qualities of exceptional talent, confidence, and occasionally a degree of assertiveness or high expectations. Thus, the etymology of ‘diva’ highlights its historical association with female deities and the elevated status and exceptional qualities attributed to female performers, as conveyed by its linguistic heritage. Divas, says Fairclough, are “symbols of empowerment, self-acceptance and celebration of individuality, and challenging societal norms” and, as such, play an important role in LGBTQ+ culture. On her podcast last year, Meghan Markle appeared to take umbrage at Mariah Carey calling her a diva, while Carey, the daughter of an opera singer, has come to embrace the term.
At what point are people jumping to use the term diva in place of ‘a woman with boundaries’? Old Hollywood icons like Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe have been dubbed ‘divas’, but this term fails to harness any nuance. While Garbo’s reclusiveness might have been perceived by many as snobbish, and her arguments with MGM executives deemed unprofessional, we cannot truly know the reasons behind her actions. Get a comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiome, the many species, and the vital roles they play. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has enjoyed one of the longest careers in operatic history.
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There is only one Callas, yet there are seemingly countless incarnations; as listeners, we project our personal desires, and distresses, onto her expressions – and we continue to bond with her music, in unpredictable ways. A new documentary explores the highs and lows of Callas’s life, as well as what her legacy is today. “She worked so hard, she made herself Maria Callas – she made herself the greatest diva,” Stella Kourmapana, archivist at the Athens Conservatoire, explains in Maria Callas, part of the BBC series Take Me to The Opera.
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- The role leading the renovated Jersey Opera House is advertised with a salary of up to £90,000.
- In the 21st Century, Callas has taken the form of a hologram on tour (though it’s unlikely that the real-life perfectionist star would have approved of the glitchy tech), and been portrayed by actresses including Fanny Ardant (in Zeffirelli’s 2002 biopic Callas Forever) and Angelina Jolie (set to star in Pablo Larraín’s upcoming film Maria).
- Lizzo’s promotion of body positivity is just one example of how dedicated divas have used their platform for good.
- The trope of the demanding, drama-loving diva is everywhere throughout the history of stage, screen, music and more.
- Her exacting standards underpinned a high-maintenance reputation; she also made no secret of her impoverished upbringing or early career.
- Callas united so-called high culture and pop culture, without compromising her repertoire.
The diva’s glamorous lifestyle was the envy of many, with private jets and luxurious vacations.8. The diva gracefully glided across the stage, effortlessly commanding the spotlight.9. Fans eagerly awaited the diva’s next release, eagerly anticipating her musical genius.10.
Examples of diva in a Sentence
- The diva’s temperamental nature often made headlines, adding to her mystique.11.
- First published in 1994, DIVA is the world’s best-selling magazine for LGBTQIA women, spotlighting all that is fresh, funny, exciting, controversial and cutting-edge in our community.
- The diva’s powerful voice filled the concert hall, leaving the audience in awe.2.
- While these facts are likely very true – Davis might have very well been an insufferable person to be around – how much of this criticised behaviour was enacted by male stars, too?
- Borrowed from Italian diva (“diva, goddess”), from Latin dīva (“goddess”), female of dīvus (“divine, divine one; notably a deified mortal”).
- Davis wrote in her memoir, The Lonely Life, “I have always been driven by some distant music — a battle hymn no doubt — for I have been at war from the beginning.
“Perhaps Maria Callas, beyond her genius as a musicienne assoluta, so timeless and perpetually modern in the sensory impact it has on the listener, continues to fascinate because she actually has no true descendants.” The musician explains a heavy moment thinking about the lyrics of a song from his forthcoming album. And if you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called The Essential List. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. DIVA Charitable Trust offers a range of platforms, delivering content relevant to the interests of LGBTQI women through print, digital, mobile and social. First published in 1994, DIVA is the world’s best-selling magazine for LGBTQIA women, spotlighting all that is fresh, funny, exciting, controversial and cutting-edge in our community.
Zeinab Badawi heads to Athens to celebrate the centenary of the birth of opera soprano Maria Callas. Faced with motor neurone disease (MND), Paul Jameson is reclaiming his voice through opera. We explore where our musical creativity comes from, and what happens to our brains when we improvise. Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home in Liverpool offers a rare glimpse into the early life of a global icon. We tackle the tough topics, like racism in the LGBTQIA community, mental health and the challenges facing queer youth, and also profile inspirational women who are making a difference to the lives of lesbian, bi and trans women.
For many people, especially during this golden age, seeing a woman act determinedly to achieve success was startling and, quite frankly, enough to earn them the diva label. Callas maintained her poise in the face of astounding cruelty, and long before Diva mainstream notions of artist wellbeing or body positivity; it’s hard to imagine people camping out for Beyoncé or Gaga shows solely to jeer or pelt the stars with vegetables. Derided in her youth for being fat, Callas was later slated for being too thin; her weight loss was said to contribute to her vocal decline, although the intensity and range of her work was surely a factor.
What does being a ‘diva’ really mean? The misogynistic history of a controversial label
Lizzo’s promotion of body positivity is just one example of how dedicated divas have used their platform for good. Known as “America’s Sweetheart”, but uncompromising when it came to her career, she broke from the stranglehold of the studio system to co-found production company United Artists, blazing a trail for numerous savvy successors, who have set up their own production companies to tell stories with strong roles for women. A female singer or performer who is talented, confident, and demanding.”The diva demanded that her dressing room be filled with only white flowers.” In the 21st Century, Callas has taken the form of a hologram on tour (though it’s unlikely that the real-life perfectionist star would have approved of the glitchy tech), and been portrayed by actresses including Fanny Ardant (in Zeffirelli’s 2002 biopic Callas Forever) and Angelina Jolie (set to star in Pablo Larraín’s upcoming film Maria). In 1936, dissatisfied with the unambitious roles offered within her contract to Warner Bros, and earning a salary inferior to her contemporaries, she sued the studio. Not only did her pay go up, but subsequent roles such as the stubborn and spoiled Julie Marsden in Jezebel (1938), which earned her a second Oscar, and the histrionic, ageing actress Margo Channing in All About Eve (1950) made cinema history, and cemented the trope of the drama-loving diva.