I Remember Too Much: 89 Opera Stars Speak Candidly of Their Work, Their Lives, and Their Colleagues

A gathering of interviews with prominent opera singers includes biographies and photographs of each singer as they talk with candor and humor about their work, their lives, and their colleagues

A unique opportunity goes awry in execution here. McGovern, archivist at Manhattan's Metropolitan Opera, and Winer, contributing editor to Opera News , had the enviable fortune to interview some 90 opera stars, yet in the resulting book we hear the likes of Birgit Nilsson, James Morris, Johanna Meier, Richard Cassillyok/g , Grace Bumbry, Paul Plishka et al. as atonal voices. Arranging chapters to simulate performance programs--of Otello , Der Ring Des Nibelungen , Aida and eight other operas--the authors intercut the singers' comments, on occasion quoting a paragraph, sometimes just a sentence, often making their observations seem like non sequiturs, random and rambling. The book also does disservice to the interviewees by quoting them at their most mundane: "I don't know one of us who's perfect"; "You really must take care for the high C." And one questions the authors' judgment in allotting 23 pages to a discussion of the Ring tetralogy but fuller space to certain single operas, for example, 38 pages to La Traviata . Photos not seen by PW .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

McGovern, a former Metropolitan Opera archivist, and playwright Winer have tracked down and interviewed 88 celebrated opera stars. Presented as a series of group interviews woven together with bits of anecdotal narrative, the text allows such performers as Moffo, Merrill, Tozzi, Sayao, and Nilsson to delve into their famous roles with wit, intellect, and passion. Whether discussing Violetta, Don Giovanni, Mimi, Wotan, Carmen, or others, their nuances of interpretation are fascinating. The late James McCracken gives an especially moving account of his commitment to the role of Otello. Fans of live Met radio broadcasts will delight in these reminiscences. This welcome addition to opera collections is recommended. (Photos were not available for review.)-- Joan Levin, Indian Trails P.L., Wheeling, Ill.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.