The Black Dog Opera Library is the most popular, informative, and budget-friendly way to enjoy the greatest operas of all time. Each book contains a history of the opera, a synopsis of the story, a complete libretto in its original language as well as in English, dozens of photos, and a world-class Angel/EMI recording of the entire opera on two CDs. It's a must-have for die-hard opera lovers as well as those in need of an introduction to the timeless art form.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.

With Five-Hundred Illustrations And Descriptions Of One-Thousand Victor Opera Records.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

A Book of Operas Their Histories, Their Plots, and Their Music was written by Henry Krehbiel. The book begins at the beginning of opera in the United States "The history of what is popularly called Italian opera begins in the United States with a performance of Rossini's lyrical comedy "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"; it may, therefore, fittingly take the first place in these operatic studies. The place was the Park Theatre, then situated in Chambers Street, east of Broadway, and the date November 29, 1825. " Operas covered in this book are Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflote, Don Giovanni, Fidelio, Faust, Mefistofele, La Damnation de Faus, La Traviata, Aida, Der Freischutz, Tannhauser, Tristan und Isolde, Parsifal, Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, Lohengrin, and Hansel und Gretel

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

One of the most significant developments in 19th-century Italian opera was the genesis of the Verdi baritone. The authors argue that the composer's baritone characters embody "a quintessential humanity, expressing needs and temptations, confusions and understandings, griefs and joys that transcend the particulars of time and place." The Verdi Baritone explores seven of the most fascinating roles in the repertory, revealing how they were conceived and executed. This eloquent book opens with a discussion of Verdi's early triumph, Nabucco; proceeds with Ernani, Macbeth, Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Simon Boccanegra; and concludes with his final great tragedy, Otello. Voice students, professional performers, their teachers and coaches, and opera lovers, will gain insight into Verdi's masterful use of text, music, and staging to portray each character's inner self.

The story of an Australian girl who defied convention and became the most famous singer of her era. Growing up in Melbourne, Nellie Mitchell dreamed of fame, but her devout father disapproved. When a chance arose to go to Paris, she trusted in her musical talent and hoped for a lucky break. Within a few years, reborn as Nellie Melba, she was performing to overflowing concert halls, hobnobbing with European royalty and collaborating with some of the most renowned composers of the age. Audiences swooned over the 'heavenly pleasures' of her voice, while the public showed an insatiable appetite for news of her sometimes passionate private life. Dame Nellie Melba was Australia's first international superstar. In this important biography, enhanced by new research, Ann Blainey captures the exuberance, controversy and pathos of Melba's remarkable career. Shortlisted for the Age Book of the Year Award

The contents of this anthology offer a broad historical introduction to the esthetics of opera, reflecting all the major periods and national styles. Ranging from the Florentine Camerata to the twentieth century, the documents give a first-hand view of the basic issues throughout opera s history and the controversies they have aroused. The selections are drawn from letters, essays, prefaces, and books and represent the views held by a wide variety of composers and librettists over the last 350 years, from Rinuccini to Corneille, Addison, Rameau, the French Encyclopedists, and Metastasio to such writers of the present century as Hoffmannsthal, Claudel, and Brecht."

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Also Contains: The Deserter: A Musical Drama; The Wedding Ring: A Comic Opera; The Waterman Or The First Of August: A Ballad Opera.

Back in print in a new edition, The Opera Companion has established itself over the years as a classic reference book for opera lovers, whether devoted or casual. Synopses of 47 of the most frequently performed operas (18 composers) are given with key words to clue the listener in to the action and musical descriptions designed for those who cannot read music. A catalog of major operas lists composer, librettist, and date and place of first performance. It explains the techniques of opera in chapters on the overture, melody, aria, and recitative, with a description of the human voice as both an artistic and mechanical instrument. The book also includes a short history of opera, told chiefly in terms of the audience and its behavior, and offers a glossary to be read for enjoyment as well as information.

George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin in 1856. Before becoming a playwright he wrote music and literary criticism. Shaw used his writing to attack social problems such as education, marriage, religion, government, health care, and class privilege. Shaw was particularly conscious of the exploitation of the working class. The Perfect Wagnerite is a politically oriented essay. Shaw was a life-long Socialist and one of the earliest Wagner enthusiasts. He praises Wagner's "Ring Cycle" as a denunciation of the evils of capitalism and as a musical triumph.

"What should I perform?" This book is to serve as a study guide of twentyfive works for the dramatic soprano voice with orchestra. Criteria used for inclusion include range, tessitura, orchestral scoring, dramatic intensity, and cultural diversity. There are examples of works dating from 1787 through 2004, and include song cycles, monoperas, monodramas, scena and arias, symphonic rhapsodies, cantatas, symphonic cycles, and lyric tragedies. Adhering to the basic requirement of the piece being suitable for the dramatic soprano voice, the chosen works are eclectic in language, style, ethnic origin, and musical period. A cursory definition of the dramatic soprano voice and its rise in operatic history is included. Information is provided for each listing, including a brief biographical sketch of the composer and the work's history and lyrics. This book is addressed to all professionals in the performing arts as well as specifically to dramatic sopranos, conductors, composers, and lovers of extraordinary and compelling vocal/orchestral works. It is also directed toward professors and educators in music, voice, orchestra, theatre, and their students.

John Hunt was born in Windsor and Graduated from University College London, in German language and literature. He has worked in personnel administration, record retailing and bibliographic research for a government agency and is on the lecture panel of the National Federation of Music Societies. In his capacity as Chairman of the Furtwangler Society UK, John Hunt has attended conventions in Rome, Paris and Zurich and has contributed to important reference works about Furtwangler by John Ardoin and Joachim Matzner. He has also translated from the German Jurgen Kesting's important monograph on Maria Callas. John Hunt has published discographies of over 80 performing artists, several of which have run into two or more editions.