{"product_id":"emperors-of-song-book-fm-stockdale-9780719557026","title":"Emperors of Song","description":"In the age of Verdi and Puccini, Wagner and Richard Strauss, opera in Britain and the USA was almost exclusively the preserve of individual private businessmen - the impresarios - who made (and lost) fortunes by personally employing the great stars of the day. Concentrating on the period 1860-1939, this book looks at the successes and disasters of such impresarios as \"Colonel\" James Mapleson, grandest and then most unlucky of showmen; and John Christie, whose love for his wife led to his building the largest private opera house since Bayreuth. Patti and Melba, Caruso and Tetrazzini - the legendary super-egos with jewels, parrots, castles and private investment accounts at Rothschilds - were the raw material these enterprising men tried to turn to gold.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49537599471889,"sku":"GOR004965029","price":11.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/071955702X.jpg?v=1751295883","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/emperors-of-song-book-fm-stockdale-9780719557026","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}