The Prima Donna of the Eighteenth Century

Prima donnas have a reputation for drama, but the 18th century seems to have treated excess as a sport. One of the most famously capricious sopranos of the era was Gabriella.

When the Viceroy hosted a grand dinner in Palermo and invited her as a guest of honor, she simply stayed in bed reading. A messenger was sent to say the company was waiting; she replied that she had “entirely forgotten” the engagement.

That night she still appeared at the opera—only to sing all her arias sotto voce, barely above a whisper. The Viceroy sent word: sing out with your usual power, or be punished. Gabriella answered with pure defiance: “He may make me cry, but he cannot make me sing.”

Royal patience ran out. She was thrown into prison for twelve days.

Even there she managed to win. She threw lavish little parties for her fellow prisoners—everyone from debtors to bandits—paid their debts, fed them, and sang for them with her full charm. When she was finally released, the very people she had pampered cheered her on the way out.