The Power of a Diva - From Maria Callas to Rihanna, a Story to Discover at the Victoria & Albert Museum

How is a diva born? How has the phenomenon of the diva changed throughout history? Two-hundred-and-fifty objects tell the story at the Victoria & Albert Museum, moving from the opera to the cinema, from the theatre to pop music. “Today, the word diva has a myriad of meanings,” explains curator Kate Bailey, “At the centre of this exhibition is a story of iconic artists who, with creativity, courage and ambition, challenged the status quo and used their voices and their art to redefine and revindicate the concept of the diva.” On display are photos, videos, works of art, memorabilia and famous costumes worn by the likes of Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Tina Turner, Cher and Pink. Divided into two rich chapters, the project explores this phenomenon from its origins, making its way to the global stars of today. Along the way, we encounter primedonne of the opera, such as Adelina Patti and Jenny Lind who, in the XIX Century, ignited passions in the public never seen before, actresses like Sara Bernhardt, who inspired feminism at its dawn, or dancer Josephine Baker, the first star performer with black skin. And then there are the stars of cinema, from the icons of silent film to the Golden Age of Hollywood, while a special section is dedicated to the “divine” Maria Callas. Over the decades, the figure of the diva changed skin, redefining its identity again and again. In the second part of the itinerary we come to see this where music acts as an engine for change - here, the stars of Jazz and Soul shine - Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin - but also provocative figures like Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Prince, Elton John, right up to the feisty Rihanna, a true diva of the Third Millennium.