Confessions of an Opera Singer

audiobook

Confessions of an Opera Singer

by Kathleen Howard

EN·~5 hours·26 chapters

Chapters

26 total
1

FOREWORD

1:20
2

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

0:19
3

CHAPTER I - THE WAY IT ALL HAPPENED

9:35
4

CHAPTER II - A STRUGGLE AND A SOLUTION

11:06
5

CHAPTER III - PARIS AT LAST

11:09
6

CHAPTER IV - PENSION PERSONALITIES

14:14
7

CHAPTER V - OPERATIC FRANCE VERSUS OPERATIC GERMANY

11:36
8

CHAPTER VI - PREPARING RÔLES IN BERLIN

9:46
9

CHAPTER VII - MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED

12:17
10

CHAPTER VIII - MY ONE LONE IMPROPOSITION

11:14

Description

A candid memoir that follows a young woman’s unexpected rise from a modest New York upbringing to the glittering stages of Europe’s great opera houses. She recalls her childhood steeped in music, the playful duets with her father, and the moment her voice—still unpolished—began to hint at something larger than ordinary domestic ambitions.

The narrative then traces her daring leap into a world of rehearsals, costumes, and fierce competition, taking readers from the bustling streets of Paris to the disciplined ranks of German officers who both support and challenge the theater’s inner life. Along the way, she shares vivid backstage anecdotes, the camaraderie of fellow singers, and the stark contrast between public applause and the private sacrifices required to keep the curtain rising.

Through humor and honesty, the story offers a rare glimpse into the realities of a career built on talent, perseverance, and the ever‑present tension between art and the practicalities of everyday survival.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (325K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material at The Internet Archive.)

Release date

2010-06-26

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Kathleen Howard

Kathleen Howard

1884–1956

A Canadian-born opera star who later became a sharp, memorable screen presence, she moved from the great stages of Europe and the Metropolitan Opera to Hollywood character roles. She is still especially remembered for creating Zita in Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and for her comic performances opposite W. C. Fields.

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