Where can I find a ranking of the best opera singers of all time that
is authoritative but does NOT come from a magazine?

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Clarification of Question by topherbordeau-ga on 30 Oct 2005 11:03 PST

I need a ranking; lists won't do.

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Clarification of Question by topherbordeau-ga on 31 Oct 2005 06:01 PST

Agreed. But unfortunately, that's the task I've been assigned.

Here are three lists that are not from magazines. They are not ranked,
however, but are listed alphabetically:

http://www.worldalmanac.com/200303WAE-Newsletter.html#10

http://www.factophile.com/show.content?action=view&pageid=79

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_opera_singers

I doubt that a ranked list would be meaningful. Comparing basso Fyodor
Chaliapin to soprano Jenny Lind is an apples-and-oranges kind of
comparison.