Book description
In 1967, Luciano Pavarotti was an up-and-coming young tenor with a
voice far more impressive than his stage technique or presence. So
Decca, his record company, told him, 'Luciano, you're a real nice guy.
So you need a real bastard to do your publicity.' Enter Herbert
Breslin. The two of them hit it off and thus began a professional
association and a friendship that lasted over 36 years.
The King and I is the story of that relationship, during
which Breslin guided what he calls, justifiably, 'the greatest career
in classical music', moving Pavarotti out of the opera house and into
the arms of the mass public. He and Pavarotti changed the landscape of
opera and Breslin relates the story of their journey in a candid,
witty fashion that is often hysterically frank and profane. His
portrait of his friend and client is full of hilarious details that
could only come from a true insider.
The King and I is the ultimate backstage book about the
greatest opera star of the past century - and the last word comes from
none other than Luciano Pavarotti himself.
Herbert Breslin has been a classical music publicist and manager
for many of the greatest performers of our time for the past 40 years.
Anne Midgette is a regular reviewer of classical music for the
New York Times and has also contributed to Opera News
and the Wall Street Journal.
