Mattia Battistini (1856-1928) is considered by many to be among the finest examples of the bel canto singing style. His unique vocal abilities and strong stage personality made him the most famous singer of his time, with a career spanning nearly 50 years in the most revered opera venues in Europe. Mattia Battistini: King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings covers the singer's entire career, from his first performance in Rome in 1878 to his final concert 50 years later. Jacques Chuilon analyzes Battistini's principle roles, recordings, and vocal technique, accessing a rich collection of reviews from the time to show Battistini's relationship with and influence on the day's top composers, such as Wagner, Verdi, and Massenet, even going into detail on how Massenet rewrote his music especially for Battistini's voice. Through this important research, Chuilon offers a fresh portrayal of this unique and inspiring, yet often misrepresented, individual. Mattia Battistini: King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings also contains an informative postscript by Battistini's granddaughter, as well as the most complete list ever compiled of Battistini's performances around the world, an impressive selection of photographs, a discography, and a 90-minute CD, re-mastered to reveal the full splendor of Battistini's magnificent voice as nearly as possible. It is an unmatched reference for teachers, students, professional musicians, and singers, as well as the casual opera lover.

(Amadeus). This collection of brief essays covers such performers as Bjorling, Callas, Domingo, Pavarotti, Tibbett, Terfel, and te Kanawa.

(Amadeus). The New York Times music and drama critic recalls friends and associates over a 57-year career. HARDCOVER.

The Italian singing technique Bel Canto instructs, "He who knows how to breathe and how to pronounce, knows how to sing." Singing: The First Art incorporates the techniques of Bel Canto along with those of masters like Berton Coffin and Manuel Garcia to promote and facilitate vocal excellence. Many concepts are described, from correct posture and alignment to improving and maintaining proper breathing, from good pronunciation and diction to producing an even, pure tone, and from vocal ranges to singing within and smoothly shifting between vocal registers. Mannes Vocal Faculty member Dan H. Marek effectively breaks down these complicated concepts with clear exercises, helping the vocal student to achieve freedom and complete control over his or her instrument. A primary section on the history of singing stresses the importance of understanding vocal history while inspiring and motivating the student through the experiences of opera stars such as Enrico Caruso, Maria Callas, and Jussi Björling. The second section explains vocal techniques, including the use and proper pronunciation of the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), and provides 64 specific exercises with clearly defined goals designed to overcome faults and to develop vocal virtuosity. Complete instructions for transposing the exercises for both male and female voices are included, as well as drawings of the exercises, musical examples from vocal literature, excellent anatomical illustrations by Frank Netter, MD, and copious photographs of opera stars. Singing: The First Art is an invaluable text for students, professionals, singers, conductors, composers, and vocal medical professionals, or anyone interested in understanding and appreciating the vocal art.

Part I. Clouds of feeling: excerpt audio recordings. Imagining excerpts; Rhetorics of seduction; Demons and dandies; All too human -- Part II. Invented works : complete audio records. The visual stage; Cruel laughter; Dancing in time -- Part III. Partial visions : video recordings. Zooming in, gazing back; Trauma retold; Libertines punished.