FAMOUS SINGERS OF TO-DAY AND YESTERDAY

HENRY C. LAHEE

Famous Singers of To-Day and Yesterday by Henry C. Lahee offers a rich and engaging historical account of vocal music's greatest stars from the early 17th century through the 19th century. Covering over three centuries of operatic and concert performance, this comprehensive volume traces the evolution of vocal artistry through the lives and careers of legendary singers—from the dawn of modern opera around 1600 to the celebrated prima donnas, tenors, baritones, contraltos, and bassos of the 19th century. Organized chronologically and thematically, the book delves into distinct eras of vocal excellence—starting with early pioneers and extending through the operatic greats of the 1850s to the 1880s. The book's detailed chapters on different voice types, including a specific focus on tenors, baritones, contraltos, and bass singers, provide a balanced and informative view of the global vocal tradition. Each portrait combines biographical insights with cultural and artistic commentary, giving readers an understanding of the unique contributions these artists made to the music world. A final Chronological Table of Famous Singers acts as a quick-reference timeline, making this volume useful both as a narrative and a scholarly resource. Perfect for vocal students, historians, music lovers, and anyone interested in the legacy of the human voice in classical music, this book is both authoritative and accessible.

Table of contents

• PREFACE.
• CHAPTER I. FROM 1600 TO 1800 A. D.
• CHAPTER II. PASTA TO MARIO.
• CHAPTER III. MARIO TO TIETIENS.
• CHAPTER IV. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE FIFTIES.
• CHAPTER V. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE SIXTIES.
• CHAPTER VI. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE SEVENTIES.
• CHAPTER VII. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE EIGHTIES.
• CHAPTER VIII. TENORS AND BARITONES.
• CHAPTER IX. CONTRALTOS AND BASSOS.
• CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF FAMOUS SINGERS.