Tintin Forums

Was Castafiore based on anyone in particular? She's always struck me as bearing an uncanny resemblance to opera diva Monserrat Caballe (who has appeared in Faust!)

Si.

I read in one of the Herge/Tintin non-fiction books that Catafiore isn't fully based on anyone, but that Herge had is aunty in mind when he created her. Apparently she loved to sing opera (and I don't think she was all that good at it).

Castafiore does look like the woman in that image but she looks to young to be the inspiration.

(and I don't think she was all that good at it).


GASP, you mean to imply Castafiore was Not a good opera singer?! And I'm not even being cheeky! I think I speak for everyone when I insist that Castafiore had the voice of a golden throated warbler, in the best of possible ways.

They clamored for her in Milan, South America, and heaven knows where all else.

The woman above sort of looks like Castafiore but to me, Castafiore's blonde hair is an important element of her looks. And I think it's natural too. I suspect those Northern Italians are of a fairer complexion.

I always assumed that Tintin and Haddock simply disliked opera music rather than any lack of talent of Castafiore's part, could be wrong though.

R

In the Finland's main newspapers montly review (not online, sorry) offers new theory about Castafiores background: diva might have been based on finnish opera singer Aino Ackte (1876-1944).

Ackte sang in Gounod's Faust many times, in Paris Grand Opera and in New York Metropolitan. She recorded Jewel song as early as 1901/02.

Ackte started Savonlinna Opera festivals in Olavinlinna Castle 1912. Kropow Castle in Ottokar's sceptre was (partly) based on Olavinlinna (http://poistyopoydalta.blogspot.com/2008/07/tintti-seikkaili-olavinli nnassa.html).

I guess Madame Castafiore is the inspiration of the opera diva Monserrat Caballe.

tintinagalog
I guess Madame Castafiore is the inspiration of the opera diva Monserrat Caballe.

I love that theory! Maybe Monserrat Caballe read the Tintin books as a child and, to her, they were the adventures of a beautiful opera singer, which would have been even better if the antics of that tufted-haired guy, his dog and his bearded sailor friend hadn't kept interruping the opera action.

reijo

Terve reijo

Could you tell me in which monthly review (Hesarin Kuukausiliite) this theory appears? I would like to read it.

tuhis

> in which monthly review (Hesarin Kuukausiliite)

In the latest, october 2008.

Allrighty then, I read the article Reijo mentioned (in Helsingin Sanomat / Kuukausiliite, october 2008)

The article is not a joke, not a wild guess but six pages long serious investigation "who is the person behind Bianca Castafiore". Farr's writings and speculations are well known but could there be someone else, a real operasinger, behind Bianca? Maria Callas (1923-77) and Renata Tebaldia (1922-2004) were too young to be Bianca, Belgian Clara Clairbert (1899-1970) was one possible canditate but she never sang Marghareta's role in Faust.

Finnish Aino Ackté (born 1876) could be the diva behind Bianca. She won operasingingcompetition in Paris by singing Faust. She made her debut in Paris Grand Opera (1897) in the role of Marhgareta.

One peculiar thing happened when Ackte sang New York Metropolitan(1904-06): the name of the official operaphotographer in Metropolitan was Dupont, he was Belgian!

Aino Ackte has recorded the jewel song many times. Listen to this:

http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=8&ag=47&t=325&a=2485

You can compare it to Bianca's performance in Seven crystal balls, put the focus on how she introduces herself.

And there more connections, Ackte's sister's name is Irma and Richard Wagner can be assosiated in many ways to Aino Ackte's life and carrier (not very interesting)

But there is still one very strong bind between Cartafiore and Ackté. Ackte is a founder of Savonlinna opera festifal. The festifal is arranged in a castle called Olavinlinna (google "olavinlinna"). In Herge's archives is a picture of Olavinlinna and in black and white version of King Ottokar's Sceptre there is exactly the same castle, its name is Kropow of course. In colourversion (after the WW II ) one tower more has appeared. That tower is from Finnish Vyborg castle. Maybe it is a symbol of symphaty for Finland. Kropow is backwards almost Vyborg. Weird.

And there is lot more. You could try to find Philippe Goggin's article in "Tintin a la decouverte des grandes civilisations. Philippe has invented the connection between Kropow and Finnish castles.

I would like to show you the picture of the Herge's phothograph of Olavinlinna and the original black and white frame of Kropow, but I can't, I don't know how to add a picture to this message.

EDIT (19.10)

The mainpoint is: If the source of inspiration is a real opera prima donna, Aino Ackté is the best canditate. Herge must have heard Ackte's version of Marghareta or even he might have seen her singing the jewel song in theatre. And the other connections, Dupont, Irma ... Vamos a ver?

I am so glad that Bianca Castafiore might be a Finnish operasinger and our castles might play a little role in Tintin. :-)

EDIT (20.10)

I meant Igor Wagner can be connected to Ackte's carrier in so many ways.