 | Diva: Encyclopedia - Diva
Diva
A Diva is a term used to describe a distinguished female opera singer, but now also refers to a popular female performer of non-operatic works. The term was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent, but many believe the word is currently overused, especially in the media, to describe any female performer who has experienced even a modicum of success. The term derives from an Italian word meaning "goddess", which, in turn derives from the feminine form of a Latin word divus, meaning "divine one".
Time Magazine observed in its October 21, 2002 issue: "By definition, a diva is a rampaging female ego redeemed only in part by a lovely voice." The word was originally used for great female opera singers, almost always sopranos, but can be used to describe many female celebrities, such as singers, or movie actresses.
As with the earlier "prima donna", which was also derived from opera (lit. "first lady"), the term has slipped from its trade origins and come to be used in any theatrical or performance setting. In particular, because of marketing efforts, the word "diva" has come to be applied most often to popular female performers. In order to qualify as a diva there must be one, or both, of two dominant traits present: a broad and expansive voice and/or a thoroughly captivating and commanding stage presence.
There are many women who are or have been considered divas. They include:
A - F: Christina Aguilera, Julie Andrews, Joan Baez, Anita Baker, Beyonce, Björk, Mary J. Blige,Toni Braxton, Sarah Brightman, Mariah Carey, Cher,Patsy Cline, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Doris Day, Céline Dion,Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin,
G - L: Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Deborah Harry, Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Whitney Houston, Chrissie Hynde, Janet Jackson, Etta James, Norah Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Brenda Lee, Peggy Lee, Annie Lennox, Patti LuPone, Loretta Lynn,
M - R: Madonna, Sarah McLachlan, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Kylie Minogue, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross,
S - Z: Sade, Carly Simon, Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Gwen Stefani, Barbra Streisand,Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Shania Twain, Sarah Vaughan,Dionne Warwick, Dinah Washington, Tammy Wynette
"Diva" may also have a negative connotation, as the word can imply that the star believes the only thing that matters is his/her person, and that everyone involved in a project must cater to his/her every whim. They commonly throw tantrums, which receive a lot of attention from the mass media. Upon reports, Diana Ross has been considered a "diva" in these respects.
Diva - Ballerinas
A diva in ballet is also called a prima donna, the meaning defined in many dictionaries. The following lists the ballerinas, who have reached the status of prima ballerina assoluta, which would perhaps qualify them for the accolade of diva:
- Pierina Legnani
- Mathilde Kschessinska
- Galina Ulanova
- Maya Plisetskaya
- Anna Pavlova
- Dame Margot Fonteyn
- Alicia Alonso
Of Ulanova, Margot Fonteyn said "I cannot even begin to talk about Ulanova’s dancing, it is so marvellous, I am left speechless. It is magic. Now we know what we lack.".
In Russia, Ulanova's flat in Moscow is designated a national museum, and there are monuments to her in Saint Petersburg and Stockholm. Cuba's ballet diva Alonso is still treated like royalty years after she has hung up her ballet shoes. [1]
Diva - Opera Singers
In opera, diva applies to any female opera singer, and this is also the main meaning in many dictionaries. Typically, an opera singer to achieve this status would be quite well known, and play a major solo part in the opera.
The following Opera Singers might qualify as divas:
- Leontyne Price
- Renata Tebaldi
- Victoria de Los Angeles
- Dame Joan Sutherland
- Maria Callas
- Dame Kiri te Kanawa
- Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Categories: Articles which may be biased | Women | Female singers
Other related archives2002, Alicia Alonso, Alicia Keys, Anita Baker, Anna Pavlova, Anne Murray, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Articles which may be biased, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Beyonce, Billie Holiday, Björk, Bonnie Raitt, Brenda Lee, Carly Simon, Carole King, Chaka Khan, Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Christina Aguilera, Connie Francis, Céline Dion, Deborah Harry, Diana Ross, Dinah Washington, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, Doris Day, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Female singers, Galina Ulanova, Gladys Knight, Gwen Stefani, Italian, Janet Jackson, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Joan Sutherland, Joni Mitchell, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Kathryn Grayson, Kiri te Kanawa, Kylie Minogue, Latin, Lauryn Hill, Lena Horne, Leontyne Price, Linda Ronstadt, Liza Minnelli, Loretta Lynn, Madonna, Margot Fonteyn, Maria Callas, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Mathilde Kschessinska, Maya Plisetskaya, Moscow, Natalie Cole, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, October 21, Olivia Newton-John, Patsy Cline, Patti LaBelle, Patti LuPone, Patti Smith, Peggy Lee, Pierina Legnani, Renata Tebaldi, Rickie Lee Jones, Roberta Flack, Russia, Sade, Saint Petersburg, Sarah Brightman, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Vaughan, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Stockholm, Tammy Wynette, Time Magazine, Tina Turner, Toni Braxton, Victoria de Los Angeles, Whitney Houston, Women, goddess, mass media, opera, prima donna, sopranos, tantrums
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Diva", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
