b. 1934 American mezzo-soprano After three years in Europe, Horne sang Marie (Wozzeck) in San Francisco in 1960, repeating the role in her Covent Garden debut in 1964. She often sang with Sutherland, notably as Arsace in Semiramide (Rossini) and Adalgisa in Norma (Bellini). She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970 as Adalgisa. She sang many Rossini ...
b. 1934, American One of the great mezzo-sopranos of the twentieth century, Horne studied with William Venard and dubbed the voice of Dorothy Dandridge in the 1954 film Carmen Jones. She was admired by Stravinsky, who invited her to perform in the 1956 Vienna Festival; she remained in Europe for three seasons at the Gelsenkirchen Opera. She returned ...
(Vocals, b. 1969) Setting out to shock everyone, Brian Warner certainly succeeded. After assuming the name Marilyn Manson all members of his Florida-based band were required to adopt the names of female divas and serial killers. Industrially functional music grew increasingly melodic as time wore on, culminating in Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998). Like Rob Zombie ...
(Zhôrzh Be-za’) 1838–75 French composer When Bizet died at the age of 37, he was considered a failure by the French musical establishment. He had had several operas produced in Paris, but none of them had been wholly successful; now his latest work, Carmen, had caused a scandal. Bizet’s reputation was at its lowest ebb, but already ...
1895–1963, German A composer, solo performer, conductor, teacher and theorist, Hindemith’s work boasted an eclectic array of musical styles, ranging from the expressionism of his first three one-act operas – now all but forgotten – to the polyphony of his later neo-Baroque output. The first signs of this transition could be heard in Cardillac (1926 ...
b. 1955 American baritone Regarded by many as the outstanding lyric baritone of his generation, Hampson has appeared regularly at the Vienna State Opera and the Met, and his repertoire encompasses Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Rossini’s William Tell, Verdi’s Macbeth and Simon Boccanegra, Thomas’ Hamlet and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. He is an acclaimed singer of German Lieder ...
Now an accepted part of going to any opera house, one of the more controversial additions to opera during the twentieth century was that of ‘supertitles’, the projection of a translation of the libretto to help audience members to understand the words that are being sung. Although supertitles are usually projected above the stage – antagonizing some lighting designers who ...
Country music and gospel have always been close partners, since many gospel acts come from the American South, and Nashville, the home of country music, lies in the heart of the Bible Belt. Numerous influences abound within the Church, stretching from traditional shape-note singing that goes back several hundred years, to today’s contemporary and Christian ...
Buddy Holly helped define and popularize rock’n’roll in its earliest days, when its future was in doubt and its existence was under attack. Strumming a Fender Stratocaster, he brought an extra dose of country to a sound that was still closely related to pure blues and rhythm and blues. He blazed a trail for white artists who, unlike ...
(Various saxophones, 1913–91) Charlie Barnet led a successful big band from 1933 until the late 1940s and was one of the earliest white bandleaders to employ black musicians, beginning with Benny Carter as a guest soloist and arranger in 1934. He introduced singer Lena Horne as an unknown in 1941 and featured many notable musicians in his line-ups. His ...
Alternative-rock guitarist Dave Navarro (b. 1967) was born in Santa Monica, California. After hearing Jimi Hendrix, Navarro began playing guitar at the age of seven and was in various bands in school. In 1986, he joined Jane’s Addiction on the recommendation of drummer Stephen Perkins, a childhood friend. Inspired by The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, ...
April California Music Awards Whilst their critical stock may have been low in other territories, it remained high in the Bay Area. This was confirmed when Green Day won eight statuettes at the annual California Music Awards (formerly the Bammies) held in Oakland on 24 April, hosted by Huey Lewis. Warning won Outstanding Album, and Outstanding Punk Rock/Ska ...
Guitar One magazine declared him a ‘modern-day master of the Telecaster’. In the 2007 Guitar World readers’ poll, his instrumental guitar tour de terror The Devil Knows My Name was named Best Shred Album of 2007. Also in 2007, he graced the covers of Guitar Player and Guitarist magazines, while in 2008, he was featured on the ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1986–present) When guitarist Richey Edwards disappeared/committed suicide in 1995 the end of the line seemed in sight for this band of Welsh Generational Terrorists. However, James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitar), Nicky Wire (bass) and Sean Moore (drums) soldiered on delivering Everything Must Go (1996). Retaining the artistic integrity that was one of their punk-inspired founding principles ...
(Vocals, composer, bandleader, 1889–1975) Sissle worked with bandleader James Reese Europe from 1916–19, before teaming up with Eubie Blake; together Sissle and Blake wrote hits for Sophie Tucker and the successful all-black musicals Shuffle Along (1921) and Chocolate Dandies (1924). Sissle led his own bands in Europe during the late 1920s before returning to America in 1931 ...
AUTHORITATIVE
An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
CURATED
Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.