A Vision of Voices - by Craig A Smith (Paperback)

About the Book

"An authoritative and exhaustive examination of John Crosby--the musician, the visionary, the impresario, the man--and his magnum opus, the Santa Fe Opera."--Juliana Gondek, professor of voice and opera studies, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

Book Synopsis

An authoritative and exhaustive examination of John Crosby--the musician, the visionary, the impresario, the man--and his magnum opus, the Santa Fe Opera.--Juliana Gondek, professor of voice and opera studies, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

Review Quotes

An authoritative and exhaustive examination of John Crosby--the musician, the visionary, the impresario, the man--and his magnum opus, the Santa Fe Opera. Written in a style as lyrical as its subject matter, A Vision of Voices: John Crosby and the Santa Fe Opera is indispensable reading for anyone who has experienced (or only dreamt of) the enchantment of the Santa Fe Opera.--Juliana Gondek, professor of voice and opera studies, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

Craig Smith's welcome new book A Vision of Voices is a revealing biography of John O'Hea Crosby.--Albuquerque Journal

Crosby, who was known to be fiercely smart, sometimes temperamental, and fastidious about what he wanted from his brainchild, is captured in all his complexity.
--Pasatiempo

Smith can't get inside Crosby's head, but he does the next best thing, and without whitewashing any of Crosby's unpleasant characteristics, he manages to convey how, in spite of them, this difficult man was able to enlist fellow believers in pursuit of a singular vision.--OPERA NEWS

Smith, an arts writer for the Santa Fe New Mexican for twenty years, has exhaustively documented his work, and he certainly brings to life a fascinating and perplexing character. This is an important book about an important figure in American cultural history.--Dallas Morning News

Splendid. . . . In this meticulously researched, handsomely produced biography, Smith's style is admirably direct and unfettered.--Opera

Whether the reader is deeply ensconced in art music of a neophyte interested in how the other half lives, Smith's book is a perfect summertime ticket to a program both profound and pleasant.--Weekly Alibi

Written with access to [The Santa Fe Opera's] extensive files (including correspondence), Smith's book provides a well-paced, intimate, insight-rich look at Crosby's formative years, his 40-plus years as [The Santa Fe Opera's] general director, and his legacy.--New Mexico Magazine

About the Author

Craig A. Smith was an arts writer for the Santa Fe New Mexican for twenty years and has written about music for many other publications.