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OverviewMaria Callas was almost as well-known for her personal life - her jet-setting, her staggering weight loss, her tigress-like temperament, her affair with Aristotle Onassis (he threw her over for Jacqueline Kennedy) - as she was for her singing. Of Greek parentage, the New York - born, internationally famous Callas was the most influential soprano of the 20th century, reviving a school of singing - bel canto - that had been shunted aside, if not forgotten, for 75 years. Unlike most of her generation of sopranos, she was a superb actress both vocally and physically: her voice encompassed many colors and she embodied each character she portrayed. After seeing or hearing her in a role, it was said, it was difficult to imagine another singer attempting it, so fierce was her individual stamp. Her status went beyond cult; her triumphs and failures appeared on the front page of newspapers all over the world. This profusely illustrated book covers Callas' life and career without dwelling on unimportant details; the facts are all here, but it is primarily a musical biography. The final third of the book is devoted to an analysis of the tracks on the two CDs that accompany the text - in short, they describe what made Callas unique, what made Callas Callas. Her voice was controversial; there were those who had negative visceral reactions to it, finding it ugly and weird. Millions of others worshiped it - and her. Listening to her now, more than 30 years after her early death at 54, there is no real argument: listen for yourselves to La Divina ('the divine one'), as the Italians dubbed her, and be amazed. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Robert LevinePublisher: Hal Leonard Corporation Imprint: Hal Leonard Corporation Dimensions: Width: 20.30cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 23.10cm Weight: 0.544kg ISBN: 9781574671834ISBN 10: 1574671839 Pages: 240 Publication Date: 01 March 2010 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Out of stock The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available. Table of ContentsReviewsAuthor InformationTab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |