{"product_id":"55-years-in-five-acts-my-life-in-opera-9781555536756","title":"55 Years In Five Acts: My Life in Opera","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor Astrid Varnay  opera was the family business. The daughter of coloratura soprano Mria Jvor and dramatic tenor Alexander Vrnay  she literally grew up backstage at the opera. Vocally and musically trained by her mother and mentor (and later husband) Hermann Weigert  she was just twenty-three years old when she made her unofficial debut at the Metropolitan Opera as a last-minute replacement for the suddenly ill Lotte Lehmann. Varnays critically acclaimed performance as Sieglinde in Die Walkre catapulted her into the limelight.  Varnay reflects on her remarkable life in opera  discussing her signature roles and performances  vocal preparation and technique  interpretive acting style  and her seamless transition from leading soprano to character roles  including her switch from Elektra to Klytemnstra in Strausss Elektra.  Her engaging and witty memoir is filled with frank  often critical  observations about many of the most significant vocal artists  conductors  and directors of the twentieth century. She describes her lifelong friendship with operatic idol Kirsten Flagstad  the years at the Met and conflicts with Rudolf Bing  her appearances at the Bayreuth and Salzburg Festivals  and her artistic rift with Herbert von Karajan.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45666142388277,"sku":"ByrdShop_1555536751","price":25.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781555536756.jpg?v=1782420770","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/55-years-in-five-acts-my-life-in-opera-9781555536756","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}