Product Description

The subjects of this third volume range from survivors of the so-called Golden Age of the 1890s, such as the formidable Lotte Lehman, to those whom the 20th century has bequeathed to the 21st, such as Cecilia Bartoli and Ian Bostridge. This is a personal selection that includes many of the great names, including Melchior, heldentenor of the century, and Gigli, the most popular Italian singer of his generation. The entire series (for this is the final volume) ends with a chapter on Caruso, still widely regarded as the greatest of all.Steane's critical essays seek out the special qualities of each singer and relate them to wider concerns in music and in life. His eloquent descriptions of the nuances of the vocal art are wonderful examples of the best kind of music appreciation. HARDCOVER.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289218 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.49 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 275 pages

James Manishen, Winnipeg Free Press , March 6, 2001
No one quite puts a face to a voice to a word like the veteran and venerable Steane.

About the Author
John Steane, who writes for Gramophone, Musical Times, and Opera News, is the author of The Grand Tradition: Seventy Years of Singing on Record, 1900-1970 and Voices, Singers and Critics. He resides in Coventry, England.