Singers of the Century, Vol. 3

With a call to arms on behalf of the great tenor Martinelli and an affectionate tribute to his colleague Lucrezia Bori, John Steane introduces a further collection of vignettes on the life, art, and times of famous singers. The subjects of this third volume range from survivors of the so-called Golden Age of the 1890s, such as the formidable Lotte Lehman, to those whom the 20th century has bequeathed to the 21st, such as Cecilia Bartoli and Ian Bostridge.

This is a personal selection that includes many of the great names, including Melchior, Heldentenor of the century, and Gigli, the most popular Italian singer of his generation. Also featured are younger American singers such as Renee Fleming, Ben Heppner, and Samuel Ramey. The entire series (for this is the final volume) ends with a chapter on Caruso, still widely regarded as the greatest of all.

Readers of Steane's previous writings on singers will know that these are not bland endorsements of performers with well-established reputations but critical essays that seek out the special qualities of each singer and relate them to wider concerns in music and in life. His eloquent descriptions of the nuances of the vocal art are wonderful examples of the best kind of music appreciation.