A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the opera world
Dr Germinal Hilbert has been an international agent for the opera’s leading singers for over 50 years, representing them worldwide through his agencies in Paris and Munich.
In his book My Life with the Stars of the Opera, Hilbert, together with Thomas Voigt, recounts his career, the highs and lows of a singer’s life, and the changes in the world of opera. The book offers deep behind-the-scenes insights and is a musical life story full of magical moments with stars on stages around the world, such as Birgit Nilsson, Leonie Rysanek, Edda Moser, and Edita Gruberova. It also repeatedly addresses the much-debated question: is the focus on the work itself or the production? Or does the director have too much influence?