Chapter I: Preface: vii

I. FROM 1600 TO 1800 A.D. 11

II. PASTA TO MARIO 41

III. MARIO TO TIETIENS 77

IV. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE FIFTIES 110

V. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE SIXTIES 143

VI. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE SEVENTIES 186

VII. PRIMA DONNAS OF THE EIGHTIES 220

VIII. TENORS AND BARITONES 260

IX. CONTRALTOS AND BASSOS 296

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF FAMOUS SINGERS 325

INDEX 333

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

CALVE AS SANTUZZA _Frontispiece_

JENNY LIND 84

JEAN DE RESZKE AS ROMEO 98

ADELINA PATTI 128

NILSSON AS VALENTINE 162

LILLIAN NORDICA 220

MELBA AS OPHELIA 244

EMMA EAMES 258

EDOUARD DE RESZKE AS MEPHISTOPHELES 272

ALVARY IN RIGOLETTO 280

SOFIA SCALCHI 300

PLANCON AS RAMFIS IN AIDA 318