author
James Henry Mapleson
1830–1901
A lively insider to the 19th-century opera world, these memoirs come from the impresario who helped shape major seasons in London and New York. Expect backstage drama, famous singers, and a firsthand look at how grand opera was built for the public.
2 Audiobooks
The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol II
by James Henry Mapleson
The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I
by James Henry Mapleson
About the author
Best known as Colonel Mapleson, he was an English opera impresario born in London on May 4, 1830, and he became a major force in opera production in both London and New York. Before turning fully to management, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and worked as a violinist and singer, experiences that gave him a practical feel for the stage from the inside.
His reputation was made through the ambitious opera seasons and tours he organized, and he became closely associated with some of the best-known singers of the 19th century. The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888 draws on that career to offer a vivid, personal account of the business, personalities, and pressures behind grand opera at its height.
He died in London on November 14, 1901. Today, his memoirs remain valuable not just for opera lovers, but for anyone curious about the human stories behind theatrical success, rivalry, and spectacle.