Men Women and Tenors [Hardcover]

Frances Alda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1937

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 307 pages
• Publisher: Ams Pr Inc (June 1937)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0404003060
• ISBN-13: 978-0404003067
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,822,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A glamorous career, well told, July 6, 2001

By 

"tom_natan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Men Women and Tenors (Hardcover)

I've only heard Frances Alda on poor recordings. But she certainly had a fun and glamorous life and wrote very well about it. The name dropping is relatively discreet, but it's also fun to read some of the animosity toward Geraldine Farrar (in her own autobiography, Farrar refers to Alda as a prima donna of secondary importance without naming her), and the ups and downs of her marriage to the manager of the Met. Artistic and entertaining at the same time, probably much like her performances. It's also a link to an old performing tradition, since her teacher also taught Nellie Melba and studied with the great vocal instructors of the 19th century, and some of that comes through in the description of her vocal exercises and lessons. In the end, there's a tiny bit of self-indulgence, but a model of information and good writing compared to biographies (hagiographies) of more recent singers.

4.0 out of 5 stars Lively and readable account of a busy life ..., February 5, 2009

By 

Rob Pollock - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Men, Women And Tenors (Paperback)

Madame Alda was born in New Zealand but raised in Melbourne, the birthplace of her fellow student of Madame Mathilde Marchesi, Madame (later Dame) Nellie Melba. It seems that there were indeed many Madames associated with the world of song. Her family members included many singers - Frances Saville, Alda's aunt, was a well known soprano who enjoyed a successful international career.

Taken with a few pinches of salt, this story of a singer's life may represent a reasonably accurate account - and certainly an interesting one - of the struggles for success, in training, and on and off stage.