Wonderful compilation of advice and instruction from operatic immortals: Nellie Melba on voice training and preservation, Alma Gluck on building a vocal repertoire, Geraldine Farrar on the will to succeed, plus contributions from Caruso, Galli-Curci, Garden, Lehmann, many more. Indispensable for singers and any opera lover. Cooke, long-time editor of Etude Magazine, provides an Introduction. 24 photographs.

This book supplies detailed explanations for young singers, teachers, and professional singers with 'troubled' voices. Striny's previous book, Head First, discussed this process but without specific instructions to accomplish the task. This completely original process was conceived by Striny to correct major problems in his voice that had been caused by two separate voice teachers. The content of the process and the suggested duration of time duplicate exactly what his self-study called for in both cases. Readers will feel in tune with a philosophy generated through this endeavor, which cements self-confidence and self-esteem with the attained accomplishments. It permits you to do your tasks without overt manipulation.

"In this his first book, Striny confronts and explains the universal problem in singing today. This problem is at the center of an important dilemma in the world of opera today--namely, where have all the great operatic voices gone? Striny dissects the problem and offers the solution, which is a return to singing in the "Head Voice," the only true operatic sound. For the past sixty years, the knowledge that there are thirty-two muscles, bones, ligaments, and sinewy masses of tissue located around the larynx led teachers and students to chase this anatomical knowledge in search of answers to vocal theories. However, they have not learned the basic fundamental truth--those who sing in the head voice are the only true operatic voices"--Back cover.

Reproduction of the original.

This work describes in accessible language the technical foundations of the Old Italian School of Singing. It enables the reader to grasp the teachings of the old masters theoretically and practically. The research for this book used not only the old treatises from the 1700's onwards but also firsthand testimonies, biographies and recordings from historical singers. The author systematically takes us through the basic elements of historical singing with practical hints and exercises tested by extensive teaching experience.

This paperbound reprint of a 1989 work for teachers of singing, performing singers, and vocal pedagogy students presents the insights of great teachers from the past--insights that have been lost or diluted over the years and which the author believes to be important to the art of teaching. In 18 chapters, Berton (emeritus, music, Colorado College) discusses the writings of Tosi, Garcia, Stockhausen, Sedie, Seiler, Lamperti, Shakespeare, Witherspoon, Lilli Lehmann, Byers, and Johnstone-Douglas. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR