Classical Opera category: 1804 books

Opera is often perceived to be characterised by excessive passions, sumptuous costumes, lavish sets, and ill-mannered divas. In reality, operas address the most fundamental and universal human concerns – love, death, jealousy, greed and power. In this timeless introduction, Alexandra Wilson rescues the art form from fading into insignificance and reveals the reasons behind its lasting appeal.

Fac-simile No. 2 is of the original MS. of "Das Veil-chen," now in the possession of Mr. Speyer, of Herne Hill (see Vol. II., p. 373). Fac-similes Nos. 3 and 4 are sketches illustrative of Mozart's method of composing. Sketch I. is described in Vol. II., p. 425. Sketch II. is of part of...

Ranging from the dawn of Italian opera through the late 19th century, this rich selection of soprano-range arias includes works by Caccini, Rameau, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, and many others. Lyrics appear in the original languages, with English translations in back. Includes a scholarly introduction by musicologist H. E. Krehbiel and a new Preface by Roelof Oostwoud.

The turning point of Madame Bovary, which Flaubert memorably set at the opera, is only the most famous example of a surprisingly long tradition, one common to a range of French literary styles and sub-genres. In the first book-length study of that tradition to appear in English, Cormac Newark examines...

Stravinsky and His World brings together an international roster of scholars to explore fresh perspectives on the life and music of Igor Stravinsky. Situating Stravinsky in new intellectual and musical contexts, the essays in this volume shed valuable light on one of the most important composers of...

One of the most expressive and versatile of the great nineteenth-century Romantic composers, Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky brought a sense of intimacy and emotional power to all of his music — whether for orchestra, opera, ballet, or art song. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians remarks on the...

In Dramaturgical Leaves: Essays about Musical Works for the Stage and Queries about the Stage, Its Composers and Performers, the third volume in Janita R. Hall-Swadley’s The Collected Writings of Franz Liszt, Liszt heralds his admiration for early nineteenth-century opera and musical stage works....

Dies ist das Libretto zur Oper The Beggar's Opera. Genießen Sie zum Klang Ihrer Lieblingsoper die Original-Texte auf Ihrem Bildschirm. Einzelne Akte und, falls mehrsprachig, Sprachen lassen sich über das Inhaltsverzeichnis auswählen.

Why are some of the most beloved and frequently performed works of the late-romantic period—Mahler, Delius, Debussy, Sibelius, Puccini—regarded by many critics as perhaps not quite of the first rank? Why has modernist discourse continued to brand these works as overly sentimental and emotionally...

A plot summary of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. With Italian text and English translation of the Catalogue Aria, the duet between Don Giovanni and Zerlina, and the visit of the stone guest

There are all sorts of people, events, and sounds that exist in the musical world for which there are no words. We have been sadly bereft of a satisfactory way to describe the contortion of a singer's mouth when reaching for the high notes; the audience member who leaves a concert halfway through...

After more than three centuries of silence, the voice of Francesco Cavalli is being heard loud and clear on the operatic stages of the world. The coincidence of productions at La Scala (Milan) and Covent Garden (London) in the same month (September 2008) of two different operas signals a new stage...

Questo libro era nato come continuazione de La virtù dell’elefante, che di nuovo ha fatto conoscere Paolo Isotta storico della musica e lo ha rivelato protagonista della letteratura italiana. Isotta avrebbe dovuto fare qualche correzione, parlare di qualche amico vecchio e nuovo, di qualche altro...

‘Muziek zit niet in de noten, maar in de stiltes die ertussen zitten.’ – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Muziek, wie kan er nou niet van genieten? Maar (mee)praten over muziek kan voor een beginner of ongeoefende luisteraar soms moeilijk zijn. Wat is een symfonie nu precies? Hoe kenmerkt zich een bepaalde...