| Vendor | |
|---|---|
|
Liepman Literary Agency
Marc Koralnik |
| Original language | |
| French | |
MARIA CALLAS
The Last Tour
Tieing in with Maria Callas' 40th anniversary of death (16 September 1977), the captivating memoirs of her last pianist
In 1973 pianist Robert Sutherland was invited to help Maria Callas prepare for her comeback tour. He stayed, travelling with her for 15 months and then working with her in the studio until shortly before her death.
Robert Sutherland was the young pianist who played for Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano on their doom-laden 1973-4 concert tour. This attractive and candid memoir of that time provides one of the best available snapshots of these two immensely gifted and insecure artists and their attempt to prove to the world and themselves that their ageing voices were still all that they had been. Sutherland is a convincing witness that there were still good nights, usually when the absence of prestigious critics meant that there was less pressure to excel, a pressure which caused, often as not, precisely that tightness and loss of power of which the critics were to complain. Sutherland is entertaining about other people's paranoia--that of the older accompanist, Ivor Newton, whom he eventually replaced, that of Callas and her circle--and successfully portrays himself as a humble servant of their music.
He also captures her authentic voice: "A diva is a diva ... a great personality. Her achievement depends on the strength of her will when she knows what she must do. I am a diva. My audiences love me but they would not want me as the girl next door. I don't care about the response of the critics. What matters is the feeling you receive from the people who are paying a high dollar to hear you sing."
In this book Robert Sutherland portrays Maria Callas as a human being. For years people have been obsessed by this woman, indeed they have been prepared to swallow any rumour or whisper relating to the Diva's life and career. At last we have a true account, from Robert Sutherland. He dispels many myths about Callas. The humility, integrity, honesty, humour and charm in his writing makes this book first published in the UK in 1999 under the title Diaries of a friendship (Constable) one of the most fascinating reads ever!
Tom Volf is a Callas specialist. His film, Maria by Callas - In her own words, will be shown Fall 2017 for the anniversary celebrations.
Robert Sutherland was the young pianist who played for Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano on their doom-laden 1973-4 concert tour. This attractive and candid memoir of that time provides one of the best available snapshots of these two immensely gifted and insecure artists and their attempt to prove to the world and themselves that their ageing voices were still all that they had been. Sutherland is a convincing witness that there were still good nights, usually when the absence of prestigious critics meant that there was less pressure to excel, a pressure which caused, often as not, precisely that tightness and loss of power of which the critics were to complain. Sutherland is entertaining about other people's paranoia--that of the older accompanist, Ivor Newton, whom he eventually replaced, that of Callas and her circle--and successfully portrays himself as a humble servant of their music.
He also captures her authentic voice: "A diva is a diva ... a great personality. Her achievement depends on the strength of her will when she knows what she must do. I am a diva. My audiences love me but they would not want me as the girl next door. I don't care about the response of the critics. What matters is the feeling you receive from the people who are paying a high dollar to hear you sing."
In this book Robert Sutherland portrays Maria Callas as a human being. For years people have been obsessed by this woman, indeed they have been prepared to swallow any rumour or whisper relating to the Diva's life and career. At last we have a true account, from Robert Sutherland. He dispels many myths about Callas. The humility, integrity, honesty, humour and charm in his writing makes this book first published in the UK in 1999 under the title Diaries of a friendship (Constable) one of the most fascinating reads ever!
Tom Volf is a Callas specialist. His film, Maria by Callas - In her own words, will be shown Fall 2017 for the anniversary celebrations.
| Available products |
|---|
|
Book
Published 2017-09-01 by L'Archipel |