La Nilsson : my life in opera /

When one thinks of romantic opera, one hears Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005) singing Brünnhilde, Isolde, Sieglinde, and Turandot. She is remembered for her effortless soprano, her warmth, her quickness in learning roles, her acting ability, her humor, and her support of rising singers. The farm-girl diva debuted at the Stockholm Opera and soon performed in opera houses throughout Europe and the Americas. Wagnerian roles were her forte, but she also triumphed in Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini, and Richard Strauss. Throughout this book, organized by topic rather than chronology, her stories of working with fellow singers, opera-house managers, and conductors brightly reflect her good humor, strong work ethic, and down-home personality. She concludes with chapters of tribute to her husband and about her stalker, 'Miss N." Nilsson was a diva in the best sense of the word, a true professional who expected the same degree of perfection from others that she demanded of herself. Her thoroughly entertaining, earthy memoirs are must reading for those curious about the personality possessed of that radiant voice.--Hirsch, Alan Copyright 2007 Booklist

We welcome the long-awaited English version of Swedish soprano Nilsson's (1918-2005) autobiography, originally published in her native tongue, Swedish, in 1995 and in German in 1997. Expertly translated by Popper, the thematically organized narrative conveys the singer's humanity, highlighting her farm upbringing and early vocal study, her long and obviously happy marriage to veterinarian Bertil Niklasson, and details of the cities and opera houses where she performed. Nilsson takes an evenhanded approach, admitting to some vocal faults while glorying in her well-deserved triumphs and singling out colleagues for particular praise or, more rarely, criticism. Her strong opinions surface in the face of quirky conductors, arrogant directors, and oblivious set designers; the difficulties in creating recordings of some of the major repertory pieces; and her experiences with obsessive fan behavior bordering on stalking. A fairly comprehensive discography, photographs, and list of awards she received are included. Nilsson's fame as one of the major international stars of the post-World War II opera scene makes this title essential for most libraries, especially as there has been very little available other than her photographic memoirs and a chapter devoted to her in a handful of opera-related books.--Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.