Overview
Growing up African American in segregated Arkansas in the 1950s, Barbara Hendricks witnessed firsthand the painful struggle for civil rights. After graduation from the Juilliard School of Music, Hendricks immediately won a number of important international prizes, and began performing in recitals and operas throughout the world. A Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, she is as devoted to humanitarian work as she is to her music. Always the anti-diva, Hendricks is a down-to-earth and straightforward woman, whether singing Mozart or black spirituals. She challenges stereotypes and puts the music first and presents a warm, engaging, and honest self-portrait of one of the great women of music.
Reviews
"When the lyric soprano Barbara Hendricks sings, the first word that comes to mind is not powerful but beautiful." —New York Times
"Barbara Hendricks is a voice, in both senses of the word. For her, artistic and humanitarian engagement are tightly linked. . . . She is completely possessed by her art." —L'Express
“I remember with the greatest of pleasures every occasion Barbara has made music with me, whether in New York, Israel or the, now legendary, performances of Turandot in the Forbidden City in Beijing with the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Always a delight to work with and with the combination of her most beautiful voice and her stunning musicianship I feel very honored to be counted as one of her colleagues.” —Zubin Mehta
“Barbara Hendricks is an artist who has made a difference. She has brought to her art a voice naturally endowed with a shimmering sweet timbre that, coupled with a fine instinct for phrasing and opera character portrayal, has put her in a category all her own. Her devotion and contribution to humanitarian causes is without parallel. I salute Barbara, her work, and her life.” —Lorin Maazel
“Articulate, resourceful, kind and compassionate.These words come to mind before I even start to think of Barbara Hendricks’ musical talent. In my mind's eye, I see the Barbara smile, the wink of acknowledgment of her fellow traveler, and always the serious, purposeful dedication to the work at hand. Barbara's glowing presence, both on stage and off, is remarkable.She has nothing to prove, and in that confidence she creates space for those around her—family, friends, and the public—and generously shares the accumulated wisdom and values that have been practiced over a lifetime. That is the presence I hear in the luminous voice of this extraordinary artist. And she keeps looking for that light.” —Yo-Yo Ma
“She has lifted her voice in song on the most prestigious stages of the world, in the Cathedral of Dubrovnik under siege, and she lifts her voice in indignation against injustice and in defence of human rights. Her life has been fueled by an insatiable curiosity, a search for truth and a willingness to serve. Through her work, Barbara has become a symbol of hope for millions.” —Kofi A. Annan, from his foreword
"Fans of opera and vocal music will enjoy this absorbing narrative, as will anyone who likes to read about strong and accomplished women." —Library Journal"In this memorable memoir...The story of her journey from Arkansas pastor's daughter to international opera star is inspriring and important." —Booklist
Author Biography
Barbara Hendricks is an operatic soprano and concert singer. She has sold more than 14 million copies of more than 80 records, and has appeared in major opera houses throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She was named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1987 and founded the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation in 1998. Kofi A. Annan served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He is the author of Interventions: A Life in War and Peace.
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