Leonard Warren - American Baritone (Hardcover) (Opera Biography) Review

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(More customer reviews)Leonard Warren was certainly one of America's greatest singers, ranking only after Merrill & Tibbett when it comes to baritones. In the 40 years since his death on stage at the Met during a performance of LA FORZADEL DESTINO this is the first full-length biography devoted to him.Unfortunately, he deserves better. Much better.
After having read otherbooks by the author, I was surprised at the ill-flowing, disjointednarrative here. She relies far too much on family recollections instead ofobjectivity. She repeats the story of Jan Peerce's anger at Warren'scobersion to Catholicism far too often as well as relying on Warren'ssister. The recollections of fellow artists are few, of little importance,and were made mostly in conjunction with articles written decades ago.Except for some anonymous recording sessions in 1940, early in Warren'scareer, there is nothing about later sessions when he made his completeoperas. Did he just show up, sing, and go home? Usually there areinteresting stories to repeat (they could have at least borrowed Culshaw'sabout the GIOCONDA sessions). Likewise, there is no comment on why Warrenwas used only once by Toscanini. Did something happen? Were Valdengo orMerrill easier to work with than Warren? The author is silent. She alsospends an inordinate amount of paper and ink huffily asking why Warrendidn't progress faster to stardom at the Met - then answers he ownquestions by telling about other (and far more seasoned) artists likeTibbett & Bonelli, both of whom had senority over the newcomerWarren.
The index is worthless since there are no references to any ofWarren's roles or even an entry for "Warren, Leonard." Areresearchers expected to plow through this badly-written book forthemselves?
The discography is also poorly organized and toutscommercial releases plus those sponsored by the Warren Foundation, arelease of VAI from the 1940 sessions and their own 2-CD set. Other issues,especially a superb 2-CD set on Romophone or a competing CD of the 1940sessions on Minerva, are ignored or merely mentioned in passing.
By theway, anyone interested in the 2-CD Warren Foundation set might first lookon their shelves. Except for 4 tracks, everything is already availableelsewhere. They missed an excellent chance to use live material.
It maybe a long time before we get anotehr Warren biography but this one isn'tworth the time or effort.

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