Quotable Opera: Aria Ready for a Laugh? - Softcover

Tanner, Stephen; Tanner, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 092015154X ISBN 13: 9780920151549

Publisher: Sound And Vision Publishing Ltd ,Canada, 2006

Synopsis

Hundreds of major and minor quotes keyed to opera people highlight the wit, wisdom and lunacy of the opera world. Read what such celebrities as Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Caruso, Ruffo, Chaliapin, Melba, Sills, Callas, Toscanini, Beecham and other more recent personalities have said about opera, themselves and each other. Add to that venomous quotes by critics, emotional outbursts by performers and some silly quotes from listeners, such as the southern society matron who told soprano Eileen Farrell, at a reception in her honour, "My dear, you reminded me so much of Kate Smith." Since Smith was a heavyweight radio singer with a lightweight voice and repertory, the comparison was so idiotic that Farrell blurted out, "Well, kiss my ass!" and stormed out. Austrian conductor Franz Schalk probably uttered the most emblematic words about opera life: "Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables." While living for years in many European opera centres, the Tanners accumulated a unique trove of opera lore. Sound And Vision published the first portion of that treasure in 1999 as "Opera Antics & Anecdotes".

About this title

About the Author

Steve and Nancy Tanner are serious opera fanatics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sound And Vision Publishing Ltd ,Canada
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 092015154X
• ISBN 13: 9780920151549
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Taccola Umberto
• Number of pages: 136