American Aria

Book excerpt: "What's it Like to grow up on a small farm in Illinois only to find yourself, some twenty years later, performing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House? And then to travel the world, singing in historic theaters from La Scala in Milan to Vienna, Paris, London, and beyond? What does it take to be hailed as one of the great operatic baritones of all times, heir to a tradition of Verdi baritones that stretches back for generations? And how does it feel to face losing your voice and your livelihood and the sometimes mean-spirited nature of the operatic world?...Sherrill Milnes's story is a true American saga. This book tells the entire story in warm, engaging prose. For anyone interested in the mystique of opera - and what really goes on behind and in front of the scenes - it makes fascinating reading. In American Aria Sherrill Milnes opens his artistic and personal life with great candor and considerable heart, revealing himself to everyone." -- Book jacket