Chaliapin
A Critical Biography
Description:... Traces the life and career of one of the Soviet Union's greatest singers and a reformer of twentieth-century opera who, in spite of his popularity in his own country, was little known to the West. The great Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938), a man who possessed remarkable acting talents as well as a magnificent voice, revolutionized the performance of opera in the 20th century, making it an art in which music and drama are inseparable. This book explores Chaliapin's career from his humble beginnings in provincial touring companies of Czarist Russia to his triumphant performances in the world's major opera houses. He concentrates on the singer's artistic development in his greatest roles--Mephistopheles, Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov and others. Using contemporaneous reviews and descriptions of Chaliapin's performances and recollections left by the singer and those who knew him, he brings Chaliapin's art to life. A comprehensive discography is included.
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