Voice of a Century

“Tommasini’s book reads like a suspense thriller … his critical commentary is rendered in [a] lucid, evocative style … He writes for those who have musical training and those who do not, paralleling Anderson herself: ‘One must never forget that an audience is many people,’ she said in her autobiography…” —Jack Sullivan, Classical Voice America

“In his inspiring Voice of a Century: The Life and Artistry of Marian Anderson, former New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini fills in the details of Anderson’s life while delving into her legendary musicality … tak[ing] pains to illuminate the talent and hard work that made her career possible.” —Robert Weibezahl, BookPage

“Voice of a Century [is] Anthony Tommasini’s thoughtful and eminently readable new biography of Anderson … we witness the extent to which Anderson and her career were shaped by her public image: the fact of it and her efforts to deflect it, control it, stay ahead of it, get out from under it, and ultimately embrace it, albeit on her own terms… [He] adds texture, an instinctive feel for the music business, and especially a deft and detailed portrait of Anderson as a singer. He is keenly attentive to Anderson’s choice of repertoire, her diction, the intersections between her vocal splendor and her interpretive imagination—and is at times refreshingly frank on the limitations of language in describing such matters.” —American Scholar

“Music critic Tommasini (The Indispensable Composers) showcases in this lucid biography the life of groundbreaking Black contralto Marian Anderson … Interweaving his commentary on Anderson’s 1956 autobiography with original analyses of her music, the author offers a well-rounded account of a singular performer and the historical context that shaped her. It’s a fitting, fulsome tribute to a lesser-known American great.” —Publishers Weekly

“Tommasini perceptively sketches Anderson’s complex character, and this longtime New York Times classical music critic really excels in passages about her singing. He apparently listened to every recording Anderson ever made, and his analyses of how her three principal accompanists affected her performances are as acute as his descriptions of her voice are evocative … Tommasini’s journalistic skills are evident in his cogent narrative of Anderson’s career, but it’s his deep musical knowledge and sensitive appreciation of her unique gifts that distinguish this short, shrewd book. An invaluable contribution to our understanding of a great artist.” —Kirkus

“In this deeply researched biography, former New York Times music critic Tommasini (The Indispensable Composers) examines Anderson’s life with careful precision, noting where details are fuzzy, unreliable, or simply unknown … This fine biography is recommended for collections with an emphasis on music or Black studies.” —Meagan Melgares, Library Journal

“Anthony Tommasini’s Voice of a Century is an invaluable addition to our understanding of a towering figure in American cultural history. Marian Anderson broke barriers through the invincible force of her artistry, and it is Tommasini’s focus on that artistry that distinguishes this fascinating account of her life. As a vastly knowledgeable and discerning critic, he offers fresh insights into Anderson’s interpretations of lieder, concert works, spirituals, and arias, in the context of the social currents of her time. Best of all, readers can’t help but be inspired to bookmark passages and turn to the growing resources on YouTube and streaming platforms to hear what Tommasini so eloquently highlights, experiencing first-hand the power and nuance of Anderson’s singing.” —Renée Fleming, recipient of the National Medal of Arts and five-time Grammy Award winner

“As a singer who’s had the great privilege of knowing Marian Anderson some, and as a Black artist deeply invested in how her story is told, I was moved by Anthony Tommasini’s deeply human portrait of this towering figure. The book reveals not only Anderson’s extraordinary artistry and dignity, but as important, the vulnerability, sacrifice, and quiet strength behind her public image. At the same time, it paints a vivid picture of the cultural and political world she also helped transform. This is an important and thoughtful contribution to our shared American story. I am so grateful it exists.” —Denyce Graves-Montgomery, Grammy and Emmy Award–winning mezzo-soprano

“A masterful read. No one else writing about music can match Anthony Tommasini’s ability to describe the indescribable, with language so vivid one can almost hear the notes in each sentence. He honors Marian Anderson’s singular career, affirming her place as so much more than one astonishing concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It’s a story of sacrifice, ambition, justice, and fortitude. I think it’s the book he was born to write.” —Jeanine Tesori, two-time Tony Award–winning composer

“Voice of a Century is a book that I wish had been written years ago, so I could know Marian Anderson as I know her now. The stories are intimate, and Tommasini brings a fresh perspective on how important Anderson was to all musicians and Black classical musicians specifically. It is an inspiring and personal look at Anderson and how she changed the world.” —Anthony McGill, principal clarinet, New York Philharmonic

“The great Marian Anderson was a consummate musician who sang all styles of classical music and always closed her concerts with Negro spirituals. Anthony Tommasini highlights her superior musical acumen. After hearing Ms. Anderson in recital, Toscanini proclaimed her singing an experience ‘one is privileged to hear only once in a hundred years.’ Tommasini will certainly help you understand why.” —Everett McCorvey, founder of the American Spiritual Ensemble

“Marian Anderson was a titanic figure, an unwilling revolutionary who acted her role with flawless nobility. Anthony Tommasini, a keen critic and sensitive chronicler, captures the complexity of Anderson’s story in buoyant, communicative prose. The statuesque presence
in front of the Lincoln Memorial has never seemed more human.” —Alex Ross, author of The Rest Is Noise and Wagnerism


Praise for THE INDISPENSABLE COMPOSERS:

“[Tommasini] defends the value of distinguishing the great from the merely good…Tommasini does a fine job of conveying the inner life of a piece, through his rhythmic sentences and sculpted paragraphs…One cannot help coming away from it with a more rounded understanding of classical music at its peak.” —Phillip Lopate, New York Times Book Review

“Every case [Tommasini] makes is convincingly argued, and his style is accessible without being patronizing, enthusiastic but never gushily so. It’s a superb read. Indispensable, even.” —Jeremy Pound, BBC Music Magazine

“Few critics in history have been as rigorously trained or deeply versed in music as Tony Tommasini. Page after page of this exuberant book show not only his comprehensive knowledge — he writes with the music under his fingers — but also his infectious love for the great classical repertory.” —Alex Ross, author of The Rest is Noise

Praise for VIRGIL THOMPSON:

“Tommasini… [e]vokes the composer’s critical ear and describes his music with words that bring us right into the concert hall” —The New York Times Book Review

Anthony Tommasini was the chief classical music critic for The New York Times from 2000 to 2021. He graduated from Yale University and later earned a doctor of musical arts from Boston University. He is the author of four books, including The Indispensable Composers, a guide to the greatest works of classical music in the canon. As a pianist, he made two recordings of Virgil Thomson’s music on the Northeastern label.

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