Placido Domingo: My Operatic Roles (Great Voices) - Hardcover

Matheopoulos, Helena

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1880909618 ISBN 13: 9781880909614

Publisher: Baskerville Pub, 2003

Synopsis

This is a unique book, not only among the existing books and biographies about Placido Domingo but among operatic books in general. It is a first-hand account by one of the greatest artists in operatic history of his view of every one of the 120 roles in his vast and unusually varied repertoire. He analyses each part both vocally and dramatically, tracing his journey through it from the time he first tackled it to the present, describing his emotions while performing it and explaining how he conquers or circumvents any vocal pitfalls. He also reveals for the first time one of the secrets of the astounding vocal longevity that enables him, at the age of 59, not only to undertake mammoth new roles, but also to sound younger and fresher than many of his much younger colleagues in the same performance. The result is a unique document, not only for his millions of fans worldwide but also for voice students and up-and-coming singers: Placido Domingo's artistic testimony for singers and opera lovers of today and of the future.

About this title

From the Publisher

Placido Domingo: My Operatic Roles is unique among music books; a vocal and dramatic analysis of 62 major stage roles by one of the century^Rs greatest tenors. Domingo has the largest and most versatile repertoire of any tenor in operatic history. This book is testament to his artistic ability, as well as providing an invaluable yet easy to read guide of the tenor repertoire for both opera fans and other tenors.

Friends for over twenty years, Domingo and Helena Matheopoulos - the Philharmonic Orchestra's special consultant for vocal projects - provide informative introductions to each role. Through her questions about operatic characters, Domingo the man emerges alongside Domingo the singer. In his discussion of Wagner's PARSIFAL for instance, he reveals for the first time the depth of his own religious faith; in his analysis of the title role in LE CID he lets slip his patriotism and intense pride in being Spanish; while his feelings about Pinkerton in MADAMA BUTTERFLY and DON GIOVANNI are refreshingly politically incorrect!

Helena Matheopoulos - a former journalist, first as fashion editor on Tatler and travel writer on the Daily Express, later a regular columnist on the arts pages of The Evening News, Opera Now and The Times - has carved a unique niche for herself with a series of highly informative books on today's musical and operatic personalities. Her books are based on perceptive interviews enriched with her own and other musicians' commentaries. "I like people to learn while being entertained and stimulated - without even necessarily realising they're learning. I think it's this feature which, along with my passion for preserving each subject's speech pattern, makes my books special."

Her first book, Maestro: Encounters with Conductors of Today was named Music Book of the Year by Stereo Review in 1993, while her second, Bravo: Today's Tenors, Baritones and Basses Discuss Their Art, was chosen for the book prize for the Metropolitan Opera Quiz. Diva: Today's Great Sopranos and Mezzos Discuss Their Roles and the Art of Singing had three hardback and two paperback editions, while Diva: The New Generation is still going strong. She is also the author of a biography of King Juan of Spain.

Book Description

*First-hand account of every one of his operatic roles by great tenor Placido Domingo.

Edition details

• Publisher: Baskerville Pub
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1880909618
• ISBN 13: 9781880909614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 290