DIVA
Maria Callas as Violetta in La Traviata, circa 1958: Photograph Houston Rogers c Victoria and Albert Museum, London
WHAT? Diva
WHERE? V&A Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
WHEN? Now until 7th April
WHY GO? To applaud talent. The term Diva (goddess in Latin) has a whole variety of prima donna connotations, and this sizzling exhibition celebrates so-called divas past and present, paying homage to individual tales of resilience as they climbed the ladder to global glory.
From iconic screen goddesses like Marilyn Monroe, whose Some Like it Hot black fringed dress is on show, to the late Tina Turner and her Bob Mackie creations, fashion is represented alongside art and music (grab some headphones) to create an overall picture of what we might expect a diva to be.
There are those for whom diva immediately relates to great opera stars like Maria Callas, famed for her talent but known to be difficult, “I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best”, she claimed when leading sopranos in the Fifties were hero worshipped like celebrities today.
Nowadays the diva tag is more likely to be attributed to megastar performers such as Beyonce or Rihanna and the spotlight will always fall on flamboyant stars like Elton John whose Louis XIV-inspired 50th birthday outfit will forever guarantee him equal diva status!
IN THE KNOW Check online for related events and talks including what promises to be a lively discussion, with award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman who has staged a revival of the musical Crazy for You which has just transferred to the West End after a sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.