The Life of Camilla Williams, African American Classical Singer and Opera Diva
Author: | Shonekan, Stephanie |
Year: | 2011 |
Pages: | 304 |
ISBN: | 0-7734-1483-5 978-0-7734-1483-9 |
Price: | $219.95 |
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This book is the memoir of an African-American operatic soprano. It is co-written
by a Nigerian ethnomusicalogist, and relates Williams’ early life, education and
subsequent career as an artist and educator. This book contains 3 color plates and seven black and white photographs.
Reviews
“…the gradual amalgamation of two diverse women—one a younger Nigerian ethnomusicologist and the other an older eminent African-American prima donna…an ideal combination for the writing of Miss Williams’ memoir…”
-Prof. Elizabeth Nash,
University of Minnesota
"She seamlessly writes the narrative so that the reader feels that Williams is talking throughout the text."
-- Prof. Annessa Ann Babic,
New York Institute of Technology
"The authors' account of Williams' early life, her college experiences, her critically-acclaimed debut with the New York City Opera, her international touring career, her life as a cultural ambassador, her marriage, and her teaching career, allows the reader to share in her struggles and triumphs over eight decades. Stunning photographs from Williams' collection, along with a chronology and discography, are useful additions for researchers...a tremendous resource for music historians, African American scholars, and those interested in an historic overview of the arts in general."
-Susie Skarl, Reviewer
March 2015 issue of the Journal of American Culture,
Librarian, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Table of Contents
Introduction by Stephanie Shonekan
Foreword by Elizabeth Nash
Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning
Chapter 2 Season of Preparation
Chapter 3 A Butterfly's Metamorphosis
Chapter 4 An Uncomfortable Cocoon
Chapter 5 A Butterfly Emerges
Chapter 6 Spreading My Wings
Chapter 7 A Workin' Travelin' Girl
Chapter 8 My Life's Love
Chapter 9 The European Stage
Chapter 10 Traversing The Motherland
Chapter 11 Contributing to the Cause
Chapter 12 The World at My Feet
Chapter 13 Path to Teaching
Chapter 14 From East Coast to Mid-West
Chapter 15 Coaching Voices, Molding Minds
Chapter 16 Spotlight in my Twilight
Chapter 17 Lessons of a Lifetime
Addendum Boris' Story
Chronology/Discography
Index of Names