The career of Marianne Pirker - a singer in the 18th century

Italian opera seria was the dominant cultural phenomenon in 18th century Europe. In the Italian opera business, singers played a central role: on the one hand, through their artistic activity in the production process of the art form opera itself; on the other hand, through their traveling activities, through which they contributed to the dissemination of operas. Aspects such as networks and mobility, role hierarchy and symbolic capital influenced the careers of these singers. Among these singers was Marianne Pirker (1717?-1782), whose biography and career have not yet been scientifically investigated. Yet, with the preservation of a part of her correspondence, an exceptionally good source situation for singers of the 18th century is available. The central goal of the present study is therefore the first elaboration of a source- critically processed biography as well as the vocal profile of this singer. The biography is linked to a music-historical concept of biographical writing, which understands music as a cultural activity and thus includes different spheres of activity outside of the concrete practice of music. Pirkers career is continuously reflected in this study against the background of the production system of opera seria in the 18th century. The insights gained through this process contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of the production system. As basic research, the study makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the Italian opera business and its actors as a pan-European cultural phenomenon. The biography developed in the study is used as a method of knowledge to gain insights into the functioning and mechanisms of the opera business from the perspective of a singer. In addition, the knowledge about the cultural actions of singers as part of a social history becomes broader. The biographical perspective is methodically complemented by the creation of a vocal profile, since the artistic abilities of a singer on the one hand constitute a part of her symbolic capital and on the other hand offer further possibilities for comparison with contemporary singers. This study is the first scientific and source-critical examination of the career of the singer Marianne Pirker in its entirety. New insights are gained in particular through the consistent reflection of the aspects of networks, role hierarchy and symbolic chapter in connection with the concept of cultural action on the basis of a singers biography.

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