Giuditta Pasta was one of the first divas in the history of music. Thanks to her rare and original vocal tone and her unique stage presence - reminiscent of Maria Callas a century later - Guiditta Pasta rose to fame and success on all the great European stages during the Restoration and JulyMonarchy, the golden age of singing and of Italian opera in particular. She proved exceptionally intelligent in making the most of the nascent star system of the time, within a context where culture became progressively industrialised as the notion of the market appeared in the world of opera. La Pasta was a skilled negotiator in all areas of her career, proving firm and demanding in her dealings with managers and musical institutions about contracts and issues related to money, etiquette, tours or holidays. Her brilliant career illustrates how women singers shifted from the status of courtesan to that of the first divas, who were extremely powerful and adored by the crowds.