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In opera or commedia dell'arte, a prima donna (:ˈpriːma ˈdɔnna) (plural: ''prime donne''; Italian for "first lady") is the leading female singer in the company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano. The corresponding term for the male lead (almost always a tenor) is primo uomo.〔H. Rosenthal, H. and J. Warrack, ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera'', 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, 1979. p. 398. ISBN 0-19-311321-X〕 ''Prime donne'' often had grand off-stage personalities and were seen as demanding of their colleagues. From its original usage in opera, the term has spread in contemporary usage to refer to anyone behaving in a demanding or temperamental fashion or having an inflated view of oneself. ==Opera== In nineteenth-century Italy, the leading woman in an opera or Commedia dell'arte company was known as the ''prima donna,'' literally the "first lady." This woman, usually the principal soprano of the company, would typically perform leading roles, and generally sang more music than other women in the company.〔 Famous opera prima donnas have often caused opera enthusiasts to divide into opposing "clubs" supporting one singer over another. The rivalry between the fans of Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi, for example, was one of the most famous, despite the friendship of the two singers.〔See for example, George Jellinek, (''Callas: Portrait of a Prima Donna'' ), Dover, 1986, p. 96 and ''passim''. ISBN 0-486-25047-4〕 The designation ''prima donna assoluta'' (absolute first lady) is occasionally applied to a prima donna of outstanding excellence.〔''Oxford English Dictionary'' (Draft revision 2009)〕 This is applied by popular consensus, to those whose achievements place them in a category above all others. Edita Gruberova, Joan Sutherland, Leontyne Price, Beverly Sills, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Birgit Nilsson and Montserrat Caballe are considered such among their peers. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Prima donna」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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