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Duet
England's most popular duettists, who have sung in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and America, and are loved by millions of radio fans, have written their love-story together.
The provincial choirboy and the little Liverpool pianist have come a long way. Webster Booth ran away from an accountant's stool to tour England at £4 a week and sing on the piers. Anne Ziegler's father was ruined on the cotton market, so she sang in restaurant cabaret. They met playing the lovers in "Faust" - and fell in love. But he was married already.
Concert-party struggles, pantomime rivalries, fun and peril in early films, adventures at Savoy Hill and parts in stage "flops" were followed by great successes. She was hailed as "Radio's Nightingale", and as a leading lady in New York and London, a film star and BBC favourite. He sang at the Albert Hall and Covent Garden, starred in the West End and on films and radio. They went half round the world together, singing.
There are two-fisted criticisms and fascinating glimpses behind the scenes in film-land, stage-land and the mad and magic world of music. The authors laugh at themselves, each other and the world as they take you with them - this boy and girl who made good in one of real life's most moving romances.
My note: The book has never been reprinted, but I digitised it and it is now available as an e-book and a paperback. Link to paperback: http://www.lulu.com/shop/jean-collen-...
The provincial choirboy and the little Liverpool pianist have come a long way. Webster Booth ran away from an accountant's stool to tour England at £4 a week and sing on the piers. Anne Ziegler's father was ruined on the cotton market, so she sang in restaurant cabaret. They met playing the lovers in "Faust" - and fell in love. But he was married already.
Concert-party struggles, pantomime rivalries, fun and peril in early films, adventures at Savoy Hill and parts in stage "flops" were followed by great successes. She was hailed as "Radio's Nightingale", and as a leading lady in New York and London, a film star and BBC favourite. He sang at the Albert Hall and Covent Garden, starred in the West End and on films and radio. They went half round the world together, singing.
There are two-fisted criticisms and fascinating glimpses behind the scenes in film-land, stage-land and the mad and magic world of music. The authors laugh at themselves, each other and the world as they take you with them - this boy and girl who made good in one of real life's most moving romances.
My note: The book has never been reprinted, but I digitised it and it is now available as an e-book and a paperback. Link to paperback: http://www.lulu.com/shop/jean-collen-...
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
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May 6, 2016
Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler were my singing teachers in Johannesburg. While I was studying with them I acted as Webster's studio accompanist when Anne (who usually played the piano for students) had other engagements. We became good friends, a friendship which lasted until they died - Webster in 1984, and Anne in 2003.
I first read "Duet" when Webster brought it into the studio and gave it to me to read. I was fascinated by the lively story of their rise to fame, their romance which was fraught with difficulties because Webster was married to Paddy Prior already, and their popularity as duettists during the forties and early fifties.
This book was written when they were at the height of their fame, some years before they had income tax difficulties and eventually moved to South Africa in 1956. Perhaps it was as well that the book ended before they experienced any hardship.
I have always tried to keep Anne and Webster's singing and illustrious careers before the public. I am sure that anyone who reads their autobiography will get a good idea of their charming personalities from reading this fascinating book. Several people who have read it recently, have described it as "unputdownable". I hope whoever reads this review and is tempted to read the book will share that opinion of it!
I first read "Duet" when Webster brought it into the studio and gave it to me to read. I was fascinated by the lively story of their rise to fame, their romance which was fraught with difficulties because Webster was married to Paddy Prior already, and their popularity as duettists during the forties and early fifties.
This book was written when they were at the height of their fame, some years before they had income tax difficulties and eventually moved to South Africa in 1956. Perhaps it was as well that the book ended before they experienced any hardship.
I have always tried to keep Anne and Webster's singing and illustrious careers before the public. I am sure that anyone who reads their autobiography will get a good idea of their charming personalities from reading this fascinating book. Several people who have read it recently, have described it as "unputdownable". I hope whoever reads this review and is tempted to read the book will share that opinion of it!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review