The world of high art fascinates contemporaries. Opera and theater help to break away from everyday problems for several hours and enjoy a combination of vivid images, a beautiful story, and a great musical component. It is not surprising that some concepts have left the scene and become available to the layman: "prima donna" is one of the most common terms that have gained new meanings in colloquial style. How did the word appear and develop?
Commedia dell'arte
The sound definition came directly from the Italian language by transcription. Prima donna means first lady. A performer with a beautiful voice and / or a charming appearance, to whom the director gave the first parts in an opera, in an operetta or in a folk theater. The prima donna is the one who gathers large halls and receives the most magnificent bouquets from fans. Usually her role is longer than that of her rivals.
There is no strict binding to the timbre of the voice, only the significance of the artist for a particular troupe is taken into account. Or the incredible love of the fans. The closest analogue of the named term is "diva", although they say so, indicating universal recognitionmerit, legendary status in a particular art form. And the male counterpart is called primo uomo or "the first singer".
Evolution of the term
Gradually, the meaning of "prima donna" became broader, indicating both professionalism and the ability to attract the attention of an audience. The word went beyond the opera and spread to specialists from other fields. Moreover, they call so now individuals who consider themselves irreplaceable, and therefore make excessive demands on others. They expect special treatment from the boss, look down on colleagues, expect customers to fully agree with their position.
There was such a shift in the concept due to the frequent whims and expressive behavior of theatrical prima donnas. After all, initially the prima donna is a status. Directors and screenwriters could not refuse the famous actress, even if she harassed the rest of the team. Sometimes the performance became popular solely because of the talent of one performer, her name on the posters.
Relevance of the concept
How appropriate would it be to call your favorite artist a prima donna? This word is considered obsolete. However, the theatrical environment literally lives on with the classics, which is why traditional titles and compliments remain in use. A very refined, delicate definition. Just do not forget about the context, because today the term is often used in a negative way: they also call vain, quick-tempered people with an overestimatedconceit!
