Every middle-aged opera fan knows that U.S. singers are not what they used to be in the days of Melba and Caruso. Every younger opera fan can prove it to himself by listening to old phonograph records. There are probably fewer great voices in the world today than at any time in operatic history.
Many reasons have been advanced to explain this dearth. There is less incentive for fine voices than there used to be. Opera singing is outshone and outpaid by movie and radio singing, and no longer attracts the number of aspirants...
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