The American Opera Singer: The lives & adventures of America's great singers in opera & concert from 1825 to the present

In America today opera has never been more popular and one reason for this is no doubt that American opera singers are fixtures on every leading opera stage throughout the world.  In this lively and engrossing account Peter G. Davis music critic for New York magazine and a leading opera authority tells the story of how these plucky resilient and supremely talented American singers have transformed this venerable European-born art form and made it their own.. Starting with operas arrival in America in the early nineteenth century Davis shows how American singers grew in sophistication and stature along with the country.  From the nineteenth-century pioneers who crashed the gates of Europes elite opera circles to the glamorous singers of the early twentieth century who were also Hollywood stars and publicity magnets to the highly professional singers since World War II who not only have gained European acceptance but now dominate the industry this lively and highly readable account chronicles the extraordinary lives and adventures of these larger-than-life personalities.  Included are Maria Callas Beverly Sills Richard Tucker Leontyne Price Marilyn Horne Lawrence Tibbett and a galaxy of others whose stories are as dramatic and compelling as the roles they sang on stage.. Full of prima-donna antics hilarious backstage anecdotes and performance lore The American Opera Singer will delight anyone who has felt the magic of opera and will provide a new canon of American singing sure to provoke spirited debate among aficionados.. Trained as a musician and composer Peter G. Davis has been writing about music for over thirty years in such publications as the New York Times The Times of London High Fidelity and Opera News.  He is currently music critic for New York magazine and lives in New York City.. Experience the artistry of Americas supremely talented singers on RCA Victor Red Seals The American Opera Singer a companion 2-CD set to this book now available in record stores.