Exploring Opera: The Divas

Presented under the auspices of the Victor Marcus Chair in Opera Studies:

“Diva!” The term strikes excitement in some, fear in others. Though actually meaning “goddess,” it has come to mean “a self-important, temperamental, difficult to please woman.” Some singers are one, the other or both. Regardless, an opera diva usually has an exceptional voice. Several divas became legendary; others also had extraordinary talents, but are almost forgotten today. Join James Sokol to discover some of these great ladies – Callas, Moffo, Scotto, Norman, Fleming, and many more! Learn about their backgrounds and experience their brilliance through performance videos. Hear the variations among the female vocal ranges – soprano, mezzo, contralto – and differences within those ranges. Bask in the glory of gorgeous voices and repertoire. Don’t miss this series, terrific for opera newcomers and long-time fans!