Great Operas: A Guide to Twenty Five of the World's Finest Musical Experiences - Hardcover

Steen, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848314574 ISBN 13: 9781848314573

Publisher: Icon Books, 2012

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Steen OBE studied at the Royal College of Music, and has been chairman of both the RCM Society and the Friends of the V&A.

Edition details

• Publisher: Icon Books
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848314574
• ISBN 13: 9781848314573
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 488