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Amazon.co.uk Review
I don't come just from a musical family, but from a musical community. The musical heritage of Yorkshire is deep and wide. This was a land of smoke and fire, coal, steel and sweat. The community that underpinned my upbringing was born from the pits and the steelworks and the railways. And woven into the fabric of this harsh existence was music.
Lesley Garrett, one of Britain's best-known opera singers, charts her rise to fame and fortune in her wry and engaging autobiography Notes From a Small Soprano (the title refers to her five foot four inch stature). Garrett grew up as part of a close-knit family in South Yorkshire, with a rich and comfortable musical heritage--"the old upright piano was, more than anything, the focus of our family"; "music to us was like food and air"--though it was a performance of Puccini's Madam Butterfly that really whetted her appetite to sing herself. An early taste for the stage arose when she undertook the part of Eliza in a school production of My Fair Lady; Garrett's next move was to train at London's Royal Academy of Music. Years of hard work ensued (at one point she was working as an artists's model to support herself), as well as an early marriage break-up and ill-health, but Garrett's talent and determination won through. Now a top-selling diva with a successful recording career and television work, she has balanced both the critical and commercial aspects of her career, and blossomed in her second marriage and motherhood. Above all, her commitment to her family and background shines through--she was inspired to write Notes From a Small Soprano after the death of her beloved grandmother, the forthright result being "not so much the story of where I have been but where I came from". --Kate Weaver --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'This refreshingly honest and open autobiography is a captivating story written from the heart, without pretence or pomposity but penned with the pride and insight of someone who truly knows who she is.' -- Lancashire Evening Post 'An engaging and enjoyable read.' -- Scotsman 'Her autobiography is written from the heart - not the celebrity ego trip that is often produced. It has grit, warmth, humour and the odd watery-eye moment.' -- Choice 'The diminuitive diva's account of the early years growing up in Yorkshire and the hardships her family went through, along with her schooldays and friendships, is warmly depicted - [Notes From a Small Soprano] is more honest than most volumes of its type.' -- Manchester Evening News
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
No modern day British Opera Star has received the status achieved by Lesley Garrett. She is not some Prima Donna, she has the "girl next door approach" and her wonderful personality shines through in this book. The early chapters are full of stories about Ms Garrett's childhood, coming from a working class background in South Yorkshire the stories are full of the courage of a family's struggle through life and is an inspiration to any family. Clearly it was in these early years where Lesley gained her determination for life and this shines through in the later chapters. The book ends with stories of her musical success,her happy family life and the love for her children, husband and the music which she performs so well.
Bravo!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Without doubt, Lesley Garrett is one of the best advertisements the opera world can hope to have. She has helped make opera accessible to all with her down to earth approach to life. This book provides a wonderful insight into her life - childhood memories in Yorkshire to the Royal Academy of Music in London and through the hard times to her sucessful career with English National Opera. Lesley's account will make you laugh with her tales of family life and experiences as a 'rookie' member of the opera chorus; cry as she recalls the trauma of her first marriage break up, subsequent illness and the death of her grandparents and share her joy in tales of meeting her husband, Peter and the arrival of their two children. Like Lesley herself, this book is honest and open and gives a wonderful insight into this unique lady and her life. Definitely worth 5 stars - a captivating read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
Listening to Lesley's autobiography was really good and I really enjoyed it. It was lovely listening to it and her life and how she became an opera singer and joined loose women etc.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent out of print book
Wife was really made up with this being a big fan of Lesley Garrett, as it is out of print. The signature and message were a great bonus.
Published 4 months ago by barmy
Notes From A Small Soprano: The Yorkshire Lass Behind The Voice
I have been a Lesley Garrett fan for a number of years & bought her autobiography, when it was first published. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Musical anorak
Lesley Garrett
I haven't read the book as it is a Christmas present for a relative but I am sure it will be very welcome!
Published 17 months ago by Mrs. Shirley A. Hope
Couldn't put it down!
This book was so fantastic to read that I've read it twice already! I am a very big fan of Lesley's, she inspired me to listen to more classical music and opera and I think her... Read more
Published on 14 July 2004
A sad, happy, funny and inspirational read!
Whatever your opinon on opera or classical music, this book is a wonderful insight into the life of one of Britain's brightest stars. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2000
Not an opera book, rather a book about opera and people
As a recent convert to Opera, thanks entirely to the delightful Ms Garrett, I was determined to get through this book, no matter how heavy the reading turned out to be. Read more
Published on 22 July 2000
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