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La Nilsson: My Life in Opera
by Birgit Nilsson, Georg Solti, Peggy Tuller, and Doris Jung Popper
Available from Amazon
$23.10
|
Features
Hardcover: 356 pages
Publisher: Northeastern May 31, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1555536700
ISBN-13: 978-1555536701
Product Dimensions:
9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
From Booklist
When one thinks of romantic opera, one hears Birgit Nilsson (1918–2005) singing Brünnhilde, Isolde, Sieglinde, and Turandot. She is remembered for her effortless soprano, her warmth, her quickness in learning roles, her acting ability, her humor, and her support of rising singers. The farm-girl diva debuted at the Stockholm Opera and soon performed in opera houses throughout Europe and the Americas. Wagnerian roles were her forte, but she also triumphed in Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini, and Richard Strauss. Throughout this book, organized by topic rather than chronology, her stories of working with fellow singers, opera-house managers, and conductors brightly reflect her good humor, strong work ethic, and down-home personality. She concludes with chapters of tribute to her husband and about her stalker, "Miss N." Nilsson was a diva in the best sense of the word, a true professional who expected the same degree of perfection from others that she demanded of herself. Her thoroughly entertaining, earthy memoirs are must reading for those curious about the personality possessed of that radiant voice. Hirsch, Alan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Review
"This is an engaging book. We come to know this formidable but warm-hearted woman so well that on next playing a record of hers we are sure to be "on her side" as never before it may not be reading for the objective professional critic, but it can be highly recommended to everyone else."--John Stearne, Gramophone
"Expertly translated by Popper, the thematically organized narrative conveys the singer's humanity Nilsson's fame as one of the major international stars of the post-World War II opera scene makes this title essential."--Library Journal
"Nilsson was a diva in the best sense of the word, a true professional who expected the same degree of perfection from others that she demanded of herself. Her thoroughly entertaining, earthy memoirs are must reading for those curious about the personality possessed of that radiant voice."--Booklist
Reader Reviews
This autobiography by Birgit Nilsson was originally published in Swedish in 1995 and in German two years later. This 2007 English translation of the German edition is by Doris Jung Popper, an American who was herself a former Wagnerian singer in Europe. It is for the most part in graceful, witty and seamless prose which catches the informal and down-to-earth way Nilsson spoke. We are taken from Nilsson's life as a farm girl in Sweden through her discovery locally, her schooling in Stockholm, her first breakthrough there and then internationally and her acclaim as the greatest Wagnerian soprano since Kirsten Flagstad. We get backstage stories about performances in New York, Milan, Stockholm, Vienna, London and, of course, Bayreuth. We read about her long happy marriage to Bertil Niklasson, a veterinarian. She shares funny and warm stories about her colleagues, not sparing those with whom she crossed swords -- most notably Rudolf Bing and, much more so, Herbert von Karajan, for whom she is particularly disdainful while admitting that he could draw magnificent music from his performers. She relates the details of her having to deal with her stalker, Miss N., a story well-known in opera circles but which may come as a surprise to some readers. One senses that Nilsson withholds some details in the interest of sparing the feelings of some opera world luminaries who are still with us. This reflects positively on her genuine concern for the feelings of others but might disappoint those who are looking for 'dirt.' There is a discography and a detailed chart outlining events in her life, as well as a compendious index. As well, there are over 60 black-and-white photographs from all periods of her life. Warmly recommended. Scott Morrison
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La Nilsson: My Life in Opera
by Birgit Nilsson, Georg Solti, Peggy Tuller, and Doris Jung Popper
Available from Amazon
$23.10
|
|
