A winning history for lay audiences.
Narrator Nancy Wu’s performance of this audiobook may remind listeners of a classical music radio host, full of gentle authority. Chan explores the history of connection between music and visual art and shares anecdotes of her own life straddling both worlds. Her examples stretch from ancient history to Taylor Swift, but the narrative spans centuries at a quick, entertaining pace. Wu’s voice is low and smooth, and her lowest notes have a pleasant, subtle vibration. She rises beautifully to the task of conveying to listeners all the referenced visual art and music through Chan’s vivid descriptions, without the illustrations in the printed book or clips of the songs themselves.
A winning history for lay audiences.Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318542381
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Baber’s reemergence will be celebrated by a new generation of female artists.
In a smooth, dusky voice, Rebecca Lam narrates the life story of American abstract expressionist painter Alice Baber (1928-1982). A talented and prolific artist, Baber painted bright, colorful shapes that mimic floating light, inspired by movement and sound. Later, she became an advocate for women artists and a champion of the feminist art movement. Sadly, her legacy was largely forgotten, while some of her female contemporaries are more well-known. Lam’s crisp diction and subtle expression enhance the descriptive writing, allowing the listener to visualize bohemian life among artists in New York’s Greenwich Village during the 1950s and ’60s.
Baber’s reemergence will be celebrated by a new generation of female artists.Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318542428
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
Jennifer Jill Araya's bright tone and dynamic pacing pair well with Vincent's accessible prose to engage listeners. The audiobook is not quite as dramatic as its title implies, serving instead as an introduction to the art form that highlights occasional industry controversies. However, Vincent does make a strong case for opera as a living genre, arguing that newcomers should join the audience and that aficionados should make room for newer works. Vincent champions operas beyond the European canon, whose famous Italian and German titles Araya pronounces with musicality and accuracy. Araya catches the humor in Vincent's perspective on the supposedly serious opera world. A light, fun, and informative listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668125038
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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