The Milanese Nightingale With the Shattering Voice

Bianca Castafiore is loathed by Captain Haddock and even Tintin’s saint like tolerance is tested in her presence. Despite being a world famous opera singer, adored the world over, she only sings one song, the Jewel Song from Faust.

Ah my beauty past compare,

these jewels bright I wear!…

Was I ever Margarita? Is it I?

Come reply!…

Mirror mirror tell me truly

Bianca comes across as insensitive figure who is used to and expects to be the centre of attention. She appears oblivious to Captain Haddock’s rudeness nor the disruption she causes where ever she goes. All of this may be related to the fact that Herge did not like opera so its not surprising that in Tintin’s world, it gets badly represented.

Often playing a minor part, such as her first appearnce in King Ottokar’s Sceptre, her roll in the story is to open doors or provide cover for Tintin in his adventures. In two stories she comes to the fore. In the The Castafiore Emerald, she comes to stay with Tintin and Haddock at Marlinspike Manor during which the eponymous emerald is stolen. In the final completed book, Tintin and the Picaros, she is imprisoned along with her maid and the Thompson twins as part of a coup. In both books, Tintin comes to the rescue.

One of Bianca’s more endearing traits is her inability to get Captain Haddock’s name right. Much like Haddock’s own eccentric vocabulary for expletives, Bianca’s selection of names for the Captain is erratic and includes: Bartok, Fatstock, Drydock, Hopscotch, Stopcock, Hammock, Paddock, Hassock, Havoc, Maggot, Bootblack, Balzac, Bedsock, Padlock, Hatbox, Stockpot, Harrock and Hemlock. This annoys Haddock greatly.

You can discover more Bianca’s forceful personality by reading the complete adventures of Tintin from the Tintin Movie Store and see where Tintin’s adventures took place on the Tintin Map