Montserrat Caballe: Casta Diva

This is the story of Montserrat Caballe's life and career from her childhood in war-torn Spain, through her years of training and struggle, to her current world-star status. The authors draw on a wealth of the diva's private documents, photographs, and personal reminiscences, and provide a shrewd and evenhanded analysis of her art, both on stage and in recordings.

The legendary Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe is known for her beautiful and distinctive tone, her flawless vocal technique, the leading roles she has undertaken--and for her tendency to cancel her engagements. Here, according to two very respectful admirers, is the scoop on everything from her early life through the various facets of her career, her marriage and family life, and the reasons (usually health-related) for all those cancellations. Well-written and accurate, if a trifle worshipful in places, this is probably the definitive biography (complete with lots of photographs) of one of the greatest divas of our time.