This book aims to provide an overview of opera for the beginner and to highlight the most popular and enduring operas. To accompany the book is a USB memory stick that contains complete performances of each opera (twenty-two in total) that you can listen to whilst reading about the background and the operatic story. The performances include the leading stars of 20th century opera including Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Tito Gobbi, Kirsten Flagstad and Victoria de Los Angeles.
Opera houses--temples to the art of Mozart, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and more--have been created by some of the most talented architects and designers of their generations, inspiring centuries of veneration from audiences, filled with royalty and commoners alike. In this sumptuous book, photographer Guillaume de Laubier and journalist Antoine Pecqueur explore more than 25 of the world's most beautiful opera houses, from Tokyo to Covent Garden, from Oslo to Chicago, from Milan to New York. The buildings are described in their historical contexts, while stunning photography reveals the theaters' most captivating spaces. In addition to offering sweeping views of ornate auditoriums and facades, the book opens doors normally closed to the public, entering the artists' dressing rooms, rehearsal halls, scenery workshops, and more, presenting a wide-ranging and compelling look into a spectacular world. Praise for The Most Beautiful Opera Houses in the World: "Performance spaces take the spotlight in The Most Beautiful Opera Houses in the World and you don't need to be a music buff to appreciate their range. The photographs by Guillaume de Laubier capture 32 theaters across the globe in rich detail . . . Who knew empty stages made for such good theater?" --Wall Street Journal "With the growing popularity of massive arenas, it is often difficult to think back to a time when going out for a night of music was synonymous with elegance. But a new book has rediscovered the high art of these exquisite theater spaces. The Most Beautiful Opera Houses in the World contains hundreds of photographs showing the exteriors and auditoriums of these cultural treasures--and is a reminder why these architectural wonders are worth a visit." --FOXNews.com
In 1850, the French mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot wrote to her friend Turgenev: "Among that mass of talented composers who are witty in a vulgar sort of way, intelligible not because of their clarity but because of their trivilaity, the appearance of a musical personality such as Gounod's is so rare that one cannot welcome him heartily enough." Pendragon Press welcomes this addition to their Vox Musicae Series of Operatic Performance Guides by Mary Dibbern. The libretti and literary sources of Gounod's two masterpieces are studied in depth. The libretto section includes word-by-word translations into English and IPA transcriptions of both libretti in their final, opéra-comique versions. Dibbern explains how the literary source materials were converted into libretti, as well as the history of the various musical editions and versions. Numerous illustrations have been provided by a member of Gounod's family.
Written by an opera insider and featuring an introduction by Placido Domingo, here is a thorough, friendly, and truly complete guide to learning how to love and appreciate the opera. After a brief history of opera, the book includes a guide to operatic terms, a minute-by-minute listener's guide to 11 central works, a list of recommended books and recordings and much more.
To its devotees, opera is the most sublime of arts. It is also one of the most accident prone, and when things go wrong, they tend to do so on a grand scale. Great Operatic Disasters records some of the most memorable calamities from opera houses around the world. Most of them are true, some have been embroidered over the years, and a few, well, se non e vero, e ben trovato.
Here at last is the definitive opera story collection, the only one now authorized by the Metropolitan Opera. Written by the associate editor of Opera News magazine, the volume includes the complete plots of 150 different operas, biographical information on all of the 72 composers represented, easy access to the stories through both a table of contents and an index, and a foreword by Peter Allen.
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of opera with "Voices of Eternity: The 100 Greatest Opera Musicians of All Time." This definitive guide celebrates the exceptional talents and dramatic prowess of the most influential figures in the history of opera. From the powerful tenor voices of Luciano Pavarotti and Enrico Caruso to the mesmerizing sopranos like Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland, and from the versatile baritones such as Sherrill Milnes and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, this book explores the rich tapestry of opera through its most celebrated performers. Each chapter offers an in-depth look at the lives and careers of these iconic musicians, highlighting their remarkable achievements, vocal artistry, and contributions to the operatic tradition.
With four famous operas each from Mozart, Verdi and Puccini, and two each from Rossini and Donizetti, there is a feast of information. Here are short guides to The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni; to the splendour of Aïda, the heart-breaking La Traviata; the drama of Tosca. The range is very broad. There is Wagner's great love story Tristan und Isolde; there is Johann Strauss's light comedy Die Fledermaus. On the way you can be briefed about such favourites as Handel's Giulio Cesare, Bizet's Carmen, Gounod's Faust, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Britten's Peter Grimes. With plot summaries, composer biographies, observations on musical points of interest and background on the historical and cultural context of each opera, every one of these guides will enhance your appreciation and enjoyment and help you discuss the work and the performance with your fellow opera-goers. Steen shares his expert knowledge with a lightness of touch that makes each guide a pleasure to read. Witty, informative and beautifully presented, Great Operas is an indispensable reference guide for both seasoned opera-goers and those enjoying opera for the first time.
