Building on the long-established success of Ethan Mordden's Opera
Anecdotes, The New Book Of Opera Anecdotes continues where the
original left off, bringing into view the new corps of major
singers that arose after the first book's publication in 1985 -
artists such as Renee Fleming, Roberto Alagna, Deborah Voigt, Jonas
Kaufmann, Kathleen Battle, and Jane Eaglen (who tested her family
with Turandot's three riddles and got a very original answer).
There are also fresh adventures with opera's fabled great -
Rossini, Wagner, Toscanini (whose temper tantrums are always good
for a story), Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price
(who, when the Met's Rudolf Bing offered her the voice-killing role
of Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco, said, "Man, are you crazy?").
Almost all the stories in The New Book Of Opera Anecdotes are
completely new, whether from the present or the past, taking in
many historical developments, from the rise of the conductor to the
appearance of the gymmed-up "bari-hunk" who refuses to play any
role in which he can't appear shirtless. While most of Mordden's
anecdotes are humorous, some are emotionally touching, such as one
recounting a Met production of Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro in
which Renee Fleming sang alongside her own six-year-old daughter.
Other tales are suspenseful, as when Tito Gobbi shows off his
ability to make anyone turn around simply by staring at his or her
back. He tries it on Nazi monster Joseph Goebbels, who does turn
around, and then starts to move toward Gobbi, seething with rage,
step by step... Mordden recounts these stories in his own unique
voice, amplifying events for reading pleasure and adding in
background material so the opera newcomer can play on the same
field as the aficionado. Witty, dramatoic, and at times a little
shocking, The New Book Of Opera Anecdotes will be a welcome
addition to any opera fan's library.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
