Prima donna

'He succeeds admirably sane, serious, committed, invigorating. ' Brian Masters, SPECTATOR 'As compelling readable as it is scholarly. ' Edward Greenfield, GUARDIAN Prima Donnas have always provoked extreme reactions - branded as spoilt and manipulative, hated and resented, even when most admired. But is this the whole story? Rupert Christiansen examines the truth behind the myth, seeking the real women behind the stereotypes. In this new edition of his acclaimed study, he puts three hundred years of these remarkable women - from Pasta and Patti to Norman and Bartoli - into their historical and musical context. He reveals their vital creative contribution to the development of opera and the intense personal struggles that were often the price of success.