September: Featured Classical Music Books

Franco Corelli
B0109. Marina Boagno. Corelli – A Man, A Voice (Second edition, Revised & Expanded), Accompanied by Corelli CD. Fort Worth, TX, Baskerville, 2006. 316pp. Index; Bibliography; Videography; Exhaustive Discography; Exhaustive Chronology, 1951-81; Repertoire; Photos; DJ. $39.90

Following Franco Corelli's unfortunate death, this book has been completely re-written, revised, and expanded.

Unrivalled in his time as Caruso was before him, yet unlike his great predecessor, Corelli lived an ascetic life away from the theatre, pushing himself relentlessly to gain complete mastery of his voice, again and again reaching new frontiers of technical virtuosity. Ms. Boagno clears up the mysteries and misunderstandings that arose throughout Corelli's career, revealing much about the man along the way. This book and the record it encloses are a frank celebration of a voice that defined a period of operatic history, a voice that will always be an inspiration to people who love singing or want to sing themselves - and of a man who lived his life for Art, whose example is another important aspect of his legacy. This volume contains a CD with rare live recordings of Corelli. In addition, there are 80 pages of photographs and a chronology and discography.

"His voice, with that beauty and security singing the highest notes has always had a tremendous effect on me… It was such a marvelous thing. And in order to do it, a tenor with a voice so big and powerful, it means that besides having great qualities, he has worked very hard. Therefore, I have the greatest respect for him." - MIRELLA FRENI

“He was fantastic, because in every note that he sang one heard passion and suffering, which are the same thing, because passion is full of suffering… I wish I could have seen Corelli just once on stage. When they say class, that was class. When they say voice, that was a voice." - GRACE BUMBRY

Risë Stevens
B0110. John Pennino. Risë Stevens: A Life in Music, Accompanied by Stevens CD. Fort Worth, TX, Baskerville, 2006. 416pp. Bibliography; Videography; Exhaustive Discography, 1935-64; Exhaustive Chronology, 1923-67; Photos; DJ. $39.90

Risë Stevens was a force of nature on the stage. From her humble beginnings in New York, Stevens' talent, determination and heart helped her rise up to perform on the greatest stages all over the world. Whether she was on the radio, television, the silver screen, or stunning audiences at the Met, her vocal presence was unforgettable. In Carmen, Risë Stevens ascended to the level of legendary performers. Stevens was a star who will always be one of our “great voices.” The author, John Pennino, has taken special care to document her amazing life, struggles and achievements. Included in this volume are 48 pages of photographs, a detailed chronology, discography, and a CD of rare recordings.

"Readers of Risë's biography can be assured that the account they are about to enjoy will be accurate, well-documented, perceptive and entertaining." – Astrid Varnay

"She did not merely step into the part and give a carbon copy of hundreds of Carmens before her. She gave all parts of it her careful consideration." – Jo Mottola

Hans Hotter
B0107. Hans Hotter Memoirs (Translated & Edited by Donald Arthur). Lebanon, NH, University Press of New England, (Northeastern University Press), 2006. 287pp. Index; Discography; Photos; DJ. $34.90

“These are memoirs, and the memories are vivid….When the Nazis came to power, Hotter was in his mid-twenties, a member of the opera company in Prague. A dangerously good mimic, he scored a success at parties with imitations of Hitler….[Hotter] has wise things to say about Wagnerian stage production. Brought up in the old tradition, he welcomed the Wieland revolution. The ‘concept’ producers of more recent times are brushed off with a few sentences of broad, godlike annihilation.”

- John Steane, GRAMOPHONE, Sept., 2006

John Charles Thomas
B0106. Michael J. Maher. John Charles Thomas, Beloved Baritone of American Opera and Popular Music. Jefferson, NC, McFarland & Co., 2006. 224pp. Index; Exhaustive Discography by Charles A. Morgan; Photos; Operatic Chronology at La Monnaie, Brussels, 1925-30; Operatic Chronology in the United States; Radio Chronology; Photos. (softbound) $39.90

“Buoyant, irrepressible and hot-tempered, John Charles Thomas captivated audiences worldwide with his incredible voice….By 1915, Thomas had become a leading performer on Broadway, and ten years later had embarked on a trans-Atlantic career in opera and concerts. At the height of his popularity from 1934 through 1946, he was a popular star of radio, phonographs, and the Metropolitan Opera, a favorite of both popular and classical audiences….This thorough biography details Thomas’ life and career. Beginning with his school days at the Peabody, it traces his Broadway career as the star of Step This Way and Maytime and his highly successful career as concert, recording, and opera star. Appendices provide a discography of his recordings, a list of operatic appearances in Brussels and the United States, and the songs he performed on radio broadcasts from 1934 to 1948.

- McFarland & Company, Publishers

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