Singers of the Century, Vol. 2

In this, second of John Steane's three-volume "Singers of the Century", another 59 singers are added to the series. The portraits clarify what is special about the singers, relating their art their careers, characters and personal circumstances. As in Volume One, the singers range from some of the very earliest to others who are still before the public, including Kiri te Kanawa, Domingo and Pavarotti. Tamagno and Maurel, the original Otello and Falstaff, share a chapter, as do the most famous French soprano and tenor of their time, Ninon Vallin and George Thill. Callas and Tebaldi, Tucker and Corelli are there, and among today's favourites, the baritones Hvorostovsky and Terfel. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs, programmes and other memorabilia.