Rosa Raisa : a biography of a diva with selections from her memoirs / Charles Mintzer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mintzer, Charles.

Contributor:

Raisa, Rosa, 1893-1963.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Raisa, Rosa, 1893-1963.

Raisa, Rosa.

Singers--United States--Biography.

Singers.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxv, 342 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Boston : Northeastern University Press, [2001]

Summary:

One of the Greatest Dramatic Sopranos of opera's first Golden Age, Rosa Raisa (1893-1963) was legendary for her imposing, powerful, and wide-ranging voice as well as for her highly dramatic and emotionally stirring stage presence. A renowned star of the Chicago Opera, Raisa sang more than a thousand opera performances and concerts around the world. Held in high esteem by composers, conductors, and colleagues, she was Puccini's choice to create the lead roles in La Rondine and Turandot.

In this first biography of Raisa, Charles Mintzer provides a captivating and revealing portrait of a warm-hearted, generous artist whose career and complex personality were shaped by a life that crossed Jewish, Italian, and American cultural boundaries. Mintzer masterfully blends his narrative with selections from Raisa's unpublished memoir and excerpts from contemporary critical reviews to present a well-rounded picture of this extraordinary woman and to trace her incredible journey to operatic fame.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Beginnings 3

Chapter 2 America 21

Chapter 3 The Big Career 29

Chapter 4 Chicago 39

Chapter 5 Norma 59

Chapter 6 Mary Garden 73

Chapter 7 La Juive 97

Chapter 8 Toscanini 105

Chapter 9 Turandot 129

Chapter 10 Norma Again 141

Chapter 11 The New Opera House 151

Chapter 12 Tosca in Berlin 167

Chapter 13 Retirement 183

Chapter 14 Perspective 207

Concert Repertoire 283.

Notes:

Includes discography (pages 287-310), bibliographical references (pages 311-328), and index.

ISBN:

1555535046

OCLC:

47073267