From 1906 until 1922, Geraldine Farrar was the Metropolitan Opera's most popular and glamorous prima donna. Convinced that music must always serve the drama, she often sacrificed tonal beauty to dramatic effect, and her acting was noted for its intensity and realism. Nevertheless, Farrar was a superb singer, possessing a beautiful lyric soprano voice. Farrar was also a star of the silent screen, appearing in 14 films from 1915 to 1920. In retirement, she was mentor and friend to the African American soprano Camilla Williams, enabling Williams to become the first African American to have a regular contract with a major American opera company. This biography and critical analysis of Farrar's career provides a detailed account of her major contributions to the history of opera. “excellent biography and analysis...descriptions of Farrar’s stage performances are so vividly related you feel as if you are there on stage with her...pretty impressive especially when talking about something that happened in the early 1900s...the research is impeccable and richly detailed, the writing first-rate...the balance between the life and the art is well-done”― Classic Images ; “a major addition to the literature about singers of the past”― The Record Collector ; “an affectionate and respectful profile”― ARSC Journal . Elizabeth Nash is an associate professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. She lives in Edina Minnesota. Used Book in Good Condition