Classical Singers of the Opera and Recital Stages: A Bibliography of Biographical Materials, Vol. 42 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Have you ever tried to find information on your favorite classical singer, past or present? If you have, you know the frustrations involved. Now, for the first time under one cover is a comprehensive listing of all known published and unpublished material of a biographical nature about classical singers of the opera and recital stages. No current reference work or periodical includes more than a fraction of the material found here. This book will save the reader countless frustrating hours tracking down sources by indicating exactly where to look. For anyone with a serious interest in classical singers, this new publication is a "MUST."
FROM THE CRITICS
BookList
Nearly a decade has passed since the appearance of Cowden's "Concert and Opera Singers: A Bibliography of Biographical Materials" (Greenwood, 1985). Since then, more than 150 additional collective works and related titles have appeared. In this new work, Cowden has heavily reworked and expanded the earlier effort to account for these new titles and, in the process, has once again produced a superb reference tool
"Classical Singers" is divided into three major sections. Section 1, "Collective Titles: Books on Singers," lists 157 books devoted entirely or primarily to classical vocalists. Section 2, "Collective Titles: Related Books," includes 283 books with additional material on many of the singers. The main body of the volume is section 3, "Individual Singers," in which bibliographic entries are listed under the names of the singers, who are arranged alphabetically. Here, too, will be found brief factual data about each artist. Appendix 1 ("Additional Artists") includes material uncovered too late in the process to include in the original entry. Appendix 2 is a listing of singers who are accorded an entry in "The New Grove Dictionary of Opera" (Grove Dictionaries, 1992). A master index of authors, compilers, and editors completes the work
Any discussion of biographical bibliographies of classical vocalists must also note Andrew Farkas' "Opera and Concert Singers: An Annotated International Bibliography of Books and Pamphlets" (Garland, 1985). Farkas provides entries for only 796 singers compared with 1,532 in Cowden. However, Farkas does provide some unique material (lengthy annotations for many of the works he has included, citations to unpublished manuscripts, and an entry for Mme. Blanche Arral, for example). Farkas is still in print, but at the current price ($65) only comprehensive collections need to consider the purchase of Farkas in addition to Cowden
Cowden's "Classical Singers of the Opera and Recital Stages" is highly recommended for academic libraries and any collections serving music scholars and aficionados of serious vocal music.
Booknews
A comprehensive listing of all known published and unpublished material of a biographical nature about classical singers of the opera and recital stages. Sources range from the early 17th century to 1993, and include some 30 languages or language variants. Many of the titles are annotated. The work is divided into three major sections. Collective Titles: Books on Singers includes 157 books devoted entirely or primarily to classical vocalists. Collective Titles: Related Books includes 283 books with additional material on many of the singers. Individual Singers, A-Z includes 1,532 vocal artists. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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