Where would grand opera be without coloraturas who erupt? After all, they radiate excitement, spread magnetism, and stimulate argument. In the off-kiltered, microcosmic reality of opera, a singers skewed ego is usually considered as indispensable as seats for the patrons Who could possibly conceive imagine a diva without eccentricities and a temper, or a male counterpart, the divo without bravado added to the list? …
“Prima Donna” does not always denote the female of the species.The operatic chronique scandaleuse knows many stories of the temperamental primo uomo. Not only tenors- though tenors seem to have a peculiar fscination for women,gland specialists, and Freudians- but also baritones and bassos.
In the late 1950’s Boris Christoff, during a Don Carlos rehearsal at the Rome Opera in which he sang the part of King Philip, got into an argument with the tenor and drew his stage sword against Don Carlos, who drew his sword- a fine climax that would have pleased Maestro Verdi.
This is exactly the stuff grand opera is made of. And we should be grateful that prima donnas are still around. Life at the opera house will never be boring as long as great temperamental artists are alive and kicking:
(see link at end)…In a world of high drama, love stories don’t come much more extravagant than that of the tenor Roberto Alagna and the soprano Angela Gheorghui.
Their own tempestuous relationship is the stuff of the operas they sing.
They are now two of the highest paid and most sought after singers in the world, and this week they will sing together in an opera for the first time since they announced their split two years ago, here in London’s Covent Garden.
When their separation was announced two years
it was accompanied by an announcement that they would never sing together again. …Their artistic antics off stage are as extravagant as their Diva-ish behaviour on-stage can be, and they are both famous for their temperamental outbursts.
She is sometimes known as Draculette because of her reported aversion to direct sunlight on her porcelain skin.
He is the only tenor to have stormed off the stage in La Scala while the orchestra was still playing after he was booed.