The Glorious Ones : Classical Music's Legendary Performers

Drawing upon contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, and other documents from the heydays of great performers ranging from the castrati to Horowitz and Pavarotti, Mr. Schonberg evaluates their successes in terms of the times in which they performed. With wit and a remarkable knowledge of his subject, he provides us with a lively, informative narrative that not only broadens our understanding of the professional talents that brought these performers to the pinnacle of their field, but also, through revealing vignettes, captures the essence of their often-elusive personalities.