"Great Operas of Puccini" is a hardback compendium of Michael
Steen's eGuides (internet guides) to all the operas composed by
Giacomo Puccini, the great composer of Italian opera. The book is a
companion to "Great Operas of Wagner", a similar hardback being
published simultaneously. The books are associated with the series
of internet guides, "The Great Opera Companion" subtitled "Guides
to One hundred Best Operas". This is Steen's first venture into
hardback self-publication, having previously been involved in the
publication of internet ebooks. Recently, Steen has been developing
the series of internet guides, "The Great Opera Companion",
subtitled "Guides to One hundred Best Operas", (see
www.greatoperas.net). Now, the internet guides to all Puccini's
operas have been brought together in these hardback compendiums,
which are beautifully produced, a pleasure to browse and hold. The
features are as follows: (1) They fulfill a purpose. The guides
were originally designed to inform the author's wife (who is not
especially enthusiastic about opera), in a quick, efficient, light
and amusing way, about what it would help her to know and expect
when going to a performance. Also, people generally find that they
do not have time, and there are too many distractions, to inform
themselves once they have arrived in the foyer. A broad-ranging but
economical, practical, crisp, and modern Guide contributes greatly
to appreciation and enjoyment. (2) Structure helpful to the user.
Each individual guide, or chapter, is divided into sections. A
quick grasp can be obtained from BACKGROUND and the following WHO'S
WHO and WHAT'S WHAT (a short summary of the opera story and the
roles). In TALKING POINTS the information is expanded. This may
facilitate conversation during the interval, before or afterwards.
ACT by ACT enables the opera-goer to `dig deeper', to appreciate
further detail about the story and aspects of the music. The guides
provide a brief potted biography of the composer, or a cross
reference to one. (3) Self-standing guides. Each guide is
self-standing and designed to be the sole point of reference for a
specific opera. In such a structure, there is an inevitable element
of duplication as information is amplified or repeated. The author
has had to judge the balance between making each guide easy to
follow for the user, while avoiding too many cross-references. For
example, the seduction of Doria, the Puccini's house-servant, is
relevant to a number of his operas. In such a structure, it is
helpful for certain of the images to be repeated. This also
provides an element of unity and cohesion to the publication. (4)
Non-technical. It has been assumed that the user has not
necessarily been taught music but is motivated, educated and
intelligent. Only in the guides on the later Wagner operas are a
small number of musical examples quoted. There, to help the reader,
the musical notation has been simplified. The examples are
necessary to elaborate on Wagner's objectives. And to give
substance to various expressions, such as to Wagner's `Tristan
chord' which greatly influenced subsequent music; and to his
leitmotives (recurring musical themes which Wagner uses to portray
a person, object or emotion etc.). (5) User-friendly: indexes,
summaries glossaries. The hardbacks require indexes which are not
so necessary in the ebook environment. Both hardbacks include a
comprehensive index, including an index to some better known items,
arias, choruses etc. in the operas. (6) What about different
productions? There is well-identified controversy today about the
extent to which it should be acceptable for opera directors to
change the time and/or the place of story, the story itself,
perhaps sensationalising it, maybe to attract and retain an
audience's attention or to make some political point. Steen
describes this as `hijacking' the opera. Each Guide carries a
warning that the guides cannot anticipate a particular production
which does not conform to the composer's intentions. Steen's
individual guides are based on the actual libretto. As such, they
provide a benchmark against which an assessment can be made, albeit
subjectively, about whether the opera is indeed the `composer's
opera' or is mis-described as such. This is a judgemental matter.
Productions inevitably have to be changed (for there are no
castratos today, as there were in baroque opera) and they should
take advantage of modern technology. But arguably many directors
have pushed the limits beyond recognition such that it is
questionable whether a particular production should properly be
described as the composer's opera at all. Opera is entertainment.
However entertaining and enjoyable a great evening may have been
for an audience, the performance may have strayed beyond one which
is faithful to the composer's intentions. (7) What about other
opera guides - the associated eguides in "The Great Opera
Companion" series? As indicated above, Steen has been developing
his series of internet guides, "The Great Opera Companion"
subtitled "Guides to One hundred Best Operas". This was begun in
2012 with the publication, again by Icon, of the hardback
compendium "Great Operas - A Guide to 25 of the World's Finest
Musical Experiences". Individual internet guides (eGuides) were
subsequently published singly for iPad, Kindle etc. Apart from
those published by Icon, they were subsequently withdrawn when
their internet publisher (not Icon) unfortunately ceased trading
early in 2016. The first twenty-five (those published by Icon) were
supplemented in the further ebook compendiums "More Great Operas"
(ISBN 9781483569123) and "Many More Great Operas" (ISBN
9780995538511). For convenience, the latter, although subtitled "A
guide to 40 more of the world's finest musical experiences", has
been periodically supplemented by the addition of many appendices
of individual eGuides. (The series, as it stands, actually
comprises one hundred and twenty eGuides, and a few more, depending
on whether one counts one-act operas as one or two.) (8) What about
the other opera guides available? Steen's guides are broader in
coverage, lighter in touch and more entertaining than opera
material which is generally available on the internet, or in the
standard hard-copy opera guides. They are easy to read, but
authoritative. They are full of insights. They enable the user to
get more value out of an evening at an opera, which is often an
expensive one. (9) Some hurdles encountered. The author experienced
various hiccups in the development of these guides, the most
memorable being in 2016 when, on a Friday night, he was notified
`out of the blue' that the company publishing on the internet had
ceased to trade and that the work-in-progress was lost in the
ether. It took a considerable time to recover the work. Steven
Weekes, the Irishman who had been handling the project, had lost
his job, and his working facilities (including his email address)
had been withdrawn. It took a long time to identify him, contact
him, and get the `show back on the road'. (10)These guides are the
perfect accompaniment to a `night at an opera' - whether in cinema,
country house garden, the cities, or just sitting comfortably
listening. They are also useful in education, and in teaching
musical appreciation. They will be valued by old and young,
seasoned and unseasoned, whether attending the opera performances
in so many of the world's leading cities in North and South
America, Asia, Australasia, Africa and Europe perhaps Sydney,
Tokyo, Covent Garden or the Met. Or in the UK, at the innumerable
venues, such as Glyndebourne, Garsington, Grange Festival, Grange
Park Opera. Even deep into the countryside of the British Isles,
say, Longborough and Nevill Holt. And across the fields near the
home of the author, West Green House Opera and the local village
hall close to the author's home, the hall which is amongst the
1,000 cinemas venues to which operas are streamed.
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!