Such Sweet Compulsion: The Autobiography Of Geraldine Farrar

by Geraldine Farrar

Such Sweet The Autobiography Of Geraldine Farrar is a memoir written by the famous American opera singer, Geraldine Farrar. The book chronicles her life and career, from her early days as a child prodigy in Massachusetts to her rise to international fame as one of the most celebrated sopranos of her time. Farrar's autobiography explores her personal relationships, including her marriage to the Italian conductor, Arturo Toscanini, and her close friendship with the composer, Giacomo Puccini. She also shares her experiences working with other renowned artists, such as Enrico Caruso and Maria Jeritza.Throughout the book, Farrar provides insights into the world of opera, including the challenges of performing on stage, the demands of touring, and the politics of the industry. She also reflects on the changing cultural landscape of the early 20th century, including the impact of World War I and the rise of new technologies like radio and film.Overall, Such Sweet Compulsion offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of opera's most iconic figures, providing readers with a unique perspective on the art form and the era in which Farrar lived.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1938

Reviews

[Greta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Peculiar structure, with alternating chapters of Gerry's voice and one purporting to be her mother. Which makes it easier for her to say things she doesn't want to say directly like how great she is or damning Lou Tellegen with faint praise--Gerry's voice is more forthright, she does go into more detail on her famous response to his death. The book gets off to a flowery and tedious start (kind of ends that way too) but improves when she gets to the stage and screen, though her accounts are generally a bit self-serving. But she sounds like a confident and contented person, which is a relief after some of the autobiographies i've read. Includes a couple chapters of amiable anecdotes and an index. Also includes a list of her operatic roles compiled by Edward Wagenknecht. I read the original 1938 edition.