Maria Callas: A Musical Biography

Rating:
Summary: Getting to know the diva intimately
Review: If you are pretty much unacquainted with the art and life of Maria Callas, I highly recommend this book by Robert Levine, an widely-known music writer and Senior Editor of ClassicsToday.com.

I knew Maria Callas only by reputation and publicity and by my old LP of Norma, recorded in 1960, a riveting dramatic portrait, although the vocal problems that shortened her career were then very much evident. I very much wanted to know more, and to hear her sing when her voice was a little fresher, and, like another reviewer here, didn't really know where to start. This book has been a godsend for me.

The text covers Callas' life and career, and includes many photos and a discography. This book includes two CD's with arias from most of the roles Callas sang on stage and a number of ones she didn't.

The text that accompanies each aria discusses when and how it was recorded, its place in Callas' career, and the real treasure for me is that it discusses, with notations of exact timings so that one can listen to each example, the nuances of drama, emotion and technique that characterize phrases, words, sometimes single notes. It is a fascinating way to get to know the work of a most remarkable artist. I have to say that I was blown away by the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermour and the lovely "La mamma morta" from Andrea Chenier, both recorded in 1955, when her voice was fresher than in my later Norma.
Because of the discussion about the painstaking and creative way that Callas crafted her interpretations of the roles she sang, I have a new appreciation for her singing, and I think I finally begin to understand what was so special and moving about her art.

I recommend this book to people well-acquainted with Callas' work as well as neophytes like myself. It really is a gift.

Rating:
Summary: Over 100 rare black & white photographs
Review: Maria Callas: A Musical Biography is a gloriously presented biography of stellar opera performer Maria Callas. Indeed, "La Divina", as she was called is quite possibly the greatest operatic soprano of the 20th century. The travails of her personal life, as well as her impressive public career, are painstakingly chronicles by internationally known music writer Robert Levine. Over 100 rare black & white photographs, and two full-length music CD's, nicely round out this superb tribute and testimony of a grand woman's life and career. Maria Callas: A Musical Biography is a "must" for the legions of Maria Callas fans and admirers.

Rating:
Summary: Life enhancing
Review: There are those people who know all about the greatest music, the gretest artists, the best performances and there are, well, the rest of us. I've been wanting to know more about Callas for some time but am always daunted when I go into a record store and see the row upon row of recordings. Where do you start? I suppose the best introduction would be to sit down with someone who knew a lot about her, who would tell you her story, while playing selections of some of her greatest recordings and pointing out what to listen for, relish, and occasionally criticise in each performance. However, in the absence of such a friend Robert Levine will do very nicely. The book is beautifully produced and the pictures of Callas at every stage of her career are stunning. The real joy though are the two CDs and the accompanying commentary in the book. Each aria is set in context and there are (thank goodness) librettos and timings. Levine points out special features to listen for and is also not afraid to criticise in places. There's also a list or performances and a discography. A wonderful treat.

Rating:
Summary: Like many Callas performances, it could have been better!
Review: This is a difficult book to comment on: having 2 CD's with Callas performances and commentary from a respected critic is marvelous, but.... One of the Big Issues in Callas' career was the way she let he voice go to pot, yet the CD tracks are not sequential, the listings do not give dates of the performances, and not all the performance notes do either. The biographical section is frequently padded, and the photographs often do not correspond with the time (or events) being described. As with most books nowadays, the publisher ran SpellCheck on the text, but no one edited it, so there are misspelled words and mis-written sentences. The CD's, though, are very much worth the price of the book, and the musical commentary is helpful. The biographical section offers no new information, but is a concise and readable summary.

Rating:
Summary: Like many Callas performances, it could have been better!
Review: This is a difficult book to comment on: having 2 CD's with Callas performances and commentary from a respected critic is marvelous, but.... One of the Big Issues in Callas' career was the way she let he voice go to pot, yet the CD tracks are not sequential, the listings do not give dates of the performances, and not all the performance notes do either. The biographical section is frequently padded, and the photographs often do not correspond with the time (or events) being described. As with most books nowadays, the publisher ran SpellCheck on the text, but no one edited it, so there are misspelled words and mis-written sentences. The CD's, though, are very much worth the price of the book, and the musical commentary is helpful. The biographical section offers no new information, but is a concise and readable summary.