Best Biographies of Classical Vocalists
In the course of this penetrating study, Father Lee argues that Wagner's ambivalent art is indispensable to us, life-enhancing and ultimately healing. 'If you agree with me that art is a reason to be alive rather than a life-support system, you'll find plenty to stimulate and entertain in this book.'.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book contains what was originally a series of three lecture by Father Owen Lee, a renowned Wagner scholar best known for his appearance on the Metropolitan Opera broadcast intermissions over several decades."
"Father Owen Lee, whom some of us Old Guys remember from when he used to be a regular commentator on the Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, is very knowledgeable about Wagner, the composer whom many of us love to hate and hate to love."
"Father M. Owen Lee, who is known for his erudite commentaries on Metropolitan Opera broadcasts has recently published another book about the Wagner's Ring Cycle, called "Athena Sings. In their tenth year of war, after the death of Achilles, the Greeks heard a prophecy "that the city would never be taken unless the wounded Philoctetes was brought to Troy with his bow (the gift from Apollo)." Father Owen is not a Wagner apologist, but he asks us to recognize our debt to the "hateful, wounded man [we] are in need of"---he whose music can penetrate deeply into our psyche and bring us, if not peace, then at least self-knowledge. He is even tempted to wonder if Wagner had Martin Luther in mind when he created his tormented young hero, "who was gifted in song, clashed with the Pope, sought refuge in the Wartburg, defied the society he knew, and profoundly changed it.""
"This small thin book is a wonderful antidote to the current politically correct trivialization of Wagner's cultural and artistic reputation."
"Really excellent book."
"A great read for any Wagner fan!"
"Makes me wonder why one has to be almost emotionally devoid to be a genius...but when one reads this one gets a glimmer of the answer..."
"The second lecture has some material which has already been covered in other books - notably Aspects of Wagner by Magee - but is still interesting."
The King and I is the story of the thirty-six-year-old business relationship between Luciano Pavarotti and his manager, Herbert Breslin, during which Breslin guided what he calls, justifiably, “the greatest career in classical music.” During that career, Breslin moved Pavarotti out of the opera house and onto the concert (and the world) stage and into the arms of a huge mass public. In Breslin's frank telling, Pavarotti emerges as a charming but utterly impossible man with an outsized ego, a need to dominate, a total disregard for other people (from secretaries and coaches to world-renowned conductors) and a passion for food, women, horses and money. Breslin is blunt about Pavarotti's many quirks and foibles, such as his superstitions, his inability to read music and his frequent failure to learn the words of his opera parts in time for performances. Pavarotti seems unaffected by the acrimony; the book concludes with an interview he gave Midgette, a classical music reviewer for the New York Times , in which he expresses appreciation for his longtime manager and friend. With his clear, projecting voice, Pavarotti rose to fame with a strategy of impressive solo concertizing that eventually propelled him to the operatic stage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a huge fan of Pavarotti, I was thrilled to start reading this book."
"I'm still in love w/Luciano."
"And makes billions for the producers today.The few Italian men who wrote these sordid tales setting them to music must have been living these sordid kinds of lives and then had beautiful singers, at the time, sing their hearts out to justify their lifestyles. His movie, Yes, Georgio, was none other than a prophetic foretelling of his adultery against Adua his lovely, talented and faithful wife of 35 years who did only good for her gigolo husband. She stayed at home raising their three little girls while Pavarotti played the millionaire gigolo cavorting with several floozies that happens to come along. The words to the songs being sung set to truly lovely music are stories filled with lust, plots of murder, bloody deaths, are licentious and vulgar. A cult for the rich to dress up to go hear sorted plays that sing of worldliness and sin."
"This was a good read."
"It seems like a very honest book with many insites into the world of Pavarotti."
"Wonderful book that tells it like it is and was."
"It si better not to know the personal life of great artists.It is also good reading, and probably only confirms a lot of what we, music lovers, knew."
"Maybe this illustrates the attitudes of the two men better than anything Breslin mentions in the book. Mr. Pavarotti, you won!!"
For the first time in operatic history, this revealing and long-awaited biography uncovers the tragically short yet elegant life and glorious career of the beautiful California soprano Sibyl Sanderson. If it's possible for the category of opera biography to include a guilty pleasure, [this book] would qualify." -- Opera News, August 2005 "Clearly, [Hansen] has left no stone unturned . an entertaining biography of an unusual operatic personality."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Maria Callas had Oristotle Onassis to complicated her life and jepordize her singing career, Sibyl Sanderson had Jules Massenet. I thought I knew who Sibyl Sanderson was - a one operatic hit soprano (THIAS) who coasted through a singing career under the lustfilled eyes of composer Jules Massenet."
"With little protections against the harmful penchants of her own nature or guidance from any cautionary tales in the new environment of celebrity, media, high financial stakes, and notoriety by association that many sought from her, Sanderson suffered breakdowns onstage and practically continuous emotional pain and confusion."
"Hansen writes with disgust how the composer Massenet contrived to have Sanderson made drunk and then seduced by a woman. Since by Hansen's own account Sanderson later approached women in public restrooms for favors, it seems the singer had her own ideas on her sexuality, but for Hansen she was merely a victim of the evil woman and of Massenet. Hansen is more sympathetic when writing about Sanderson's alcoholism, and speculates that she could find better help today than she did in her own time. Despite the uneven writing, it was intriguing almost-500 pages, with good guys such as Sibyl's mother and bad guys such as Massenet and Mary Garden, and a fascinating look at an artist's sad life."
"This is an interesting story not only of a famously wilful and brilliant singing actress, but also of life in late Nineteenth Century Paris."
"Hansen's spin on the circumstances of her demise takes poetic license to an extreme, and after seeing the words "Manon" and "Massenet" on just about every other page, the eyes begin to cross."
Best Biographies of Classical Instrumentalists
Read on your PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet. or Kindle device. Furthermore, if you are an amateur, then learning to play the piano may well be the perfect beginning for your musical journey. ‘Learn to Play Piano’ covers everything from the keys, scales, reading music, chords, improvisations and how you can effectively practice your way to achieving success. The initial low price will increase shortly - the book is currently $2.99, but will next increase to $9.99 you have unlimited lifetime access at no extra costs, ever,Simply email us for updates all future additional lectures, bonuses, etc in this course are always free there's an unconditional, never any questions asked full 30 day money-back-in-full guarantee my help is always available to you if you get stuck or have a question - my support is legendary for all are how to Guides What are you waiting for?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this book titled “Play Piano Fast : Teach Yourself to Play Piano Top Piano Playing Hacks, Tips and Advice”, Marcus Johnson kindly offers his readers useful lessons about playing the piano."
"That’s going to be a little harder to come by so I was thinking that I could start to teach her myself. Not only did it do that but it also has given me some excellent reference material when it comes to teaching her!"
"I believe in the beginning my practicing was pretty annoying but my family was kind enough not to mention it :) I am still far from perfect and there are still many things in this book I still have to follow up on, but now playing the piano has become a real pleasure, for me and I believe for my audience as well."
"If you're completely new to piano or music you might want to couple this with a few other basic music books as well because it does have musical terms in."
"I've never been musically inclined, so this book was so helpful in teaching me to play the piano."
"The book very simply explains the basics to help novices like me feel more comfortable."
"I’ve started to teach myself the basics of piano playing."
"The English throughout this e-book is EXCEEDINGLY awkward."
Best Biographies of Classical Directors
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s name is today synonymous with genius, but his life was a whirlwind of controversy, jealousy, and clashing egos. In this highly readable short biography, Alexander Kennedy brings Mozart and his times vividly to life. We watch Mozart clash with family and friends, with archbishops and emperors, and we feel again the tragedy of his mysterious early death.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Any feedback, positive or negative, regarding this product is based on my personal experience with the product. Your feedback will allow me to continue to leave helpful reviews of products. In turn, I will only leave a fair, honest, and unbiased review of each product in the hopes that it will help others make informed decisions about the products they are considering purchasing."
"Great book quick informative and not very time consuming."
"Qurious is a Christmas gift."
"Simple, but good short review of his life."
"clear concise and very enjoyable."
"The story of the life of Mozart reads a bit like a term paper rather than a biography. He and his older sister played the piano so well that his father took them on tour across. Europe to entertain royalty and common folk as well. He was one composer who was held in high esteem during his lifetime even though his life. was short. Today if you travel to Salzburg and Vienna. you can hear the music of Mozart played in the streets."
"Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was said to have composed his first piece of music, a minuet, when he was just five years old! This interesting biography charts the musician's extraordinary career and personal life while painting a vibrant cultural history of eighteenth-century Europe. Definitely a good read for those who love classical music and history lovers that care for more than just the events but the people too."