Mattia Battistini: King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings
Such an easily-accessible and wide-ranging account of Battistini's and his colleagues' performances of his hitherto almost-unknown life away from the stage, and the background to his recordings is certain to be of great interest to his many admirers....The accompanying CD presents a well-chosen survey of the recordings made over its subject's entire recording career, 1902-1924. (Michael E. Henstock)Author Chuilon covers Battistini's career in astounding detail....vociferous advocacy of a singing titan is hardly a crime, especially when it is backed up by so much excellent research and knowledgeable commentary by both the author and others. (Joe Pearce)This book is indispensable for all singers and lovers of the "lost" bel canto tradition. In this biography of one of the consummate masters of singing, Mattia Battistini, Chuilon has lovingly collected every possible piece of information about this "glory of Italy," analyzed it, sorted it, and now in this English version, made it possible for a new generation of opera lovers to understand how this singer was so important to the success of Verdi and Massenet, to Wagner and Saint-Saëns, among so many others. The restored musical excerpts on the enclosed CD, and the thorough analysis of Battistini's vocal technique and career, make it a valuable reference work, and a source of inspiration musically and aesthetically. (Thomas Hampson)