Famous Prima Donnas

By Lewis Clinton Strang

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

Step back in time to discover the dazzling world of late 19th-century opera, where captivating women overcame challenges to become legendary performers.

Genres

Biographies Music Performing Arts/Film

Released

2011-05-24

Formats

epub

mobi

mobi (images)

epub3 (images)

epub (images)

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Summary

"Famous Prima Donnas" by Lewis Clinton Strang is a historical exploration of celebrated female opera singers, highlighting their journeys to stardom in the late 1800s. The book blends life stories with thoughtful critiques, revealing the diverse qualities that propelled these women to become unforgettable entertainers. Setting the stage, the author introduces the role of women in American musical theater, explaining the challenges of merging personal charm with vocal and acting skills. He points out that some singers achieved fame due to their captivating personalities rather than extensive formal training. The initial focus is on Alice Nielsen, tracing her evolution from a church vocalist to a leading light opera star, with an accent on her innate stage presence and the difficulties she navigated early in her career.