The Bluffer's Guide to Opera: Bluff Your Way in Opera (Bluffer's Guides) - Softcover

Gammond, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903096596 ISBN 13: 9781903096598

Publisher: Oval Books, 2005

Synopsis

Native tongue

The true opera buff is staunchly for opera in the original language, knowing full well that it is likely to be twice as tedious to know what is going on as not to know.

Opera repertoire

The names of operas should generally be spoken in the original language unless it is too obvious what they mean and familiarity has bred suitable contempt, e.g. The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Barber of Seville. It shows a true familiarity with the opera repertoire if you abbreviate these to The Flute, The Marriage, and The Barber.

Plot

It is fairly safe to make up bits of an opera plot as nobody is likely to challenge its validity. A fair number of them are just as intelligible after reading the synopsis as before.

Acting ability

Opera singers have their fair share of genius, namely the ability to sing and execute a trill or two. The problem is they are required to act as well.

Libretto

The opera plot is generally referred to as the libretto from the Italian meaning ?little book”?i.e. ?small,” ?insignificant” and ?hardly worth reading.”

About this title

About the Author

Peter Gammond's first introduction to opera came when he bought a small 7" disc with a red label in Woolworth's in 1930. It was entitled 'Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong' from an operetta called Les Cloches de Corneville. He never really managed to overcome its effects and has continued to have bad taste. Author of several well-illustrated books on opera which sell because of the pictures, and a number of serious works on music, both classical and popular - some 40 books in all - he is still slightly taken aback, when being introduced, by the instant enquiry 'Not the Gammond who wrote the Bluffer's Guide to Music?' He will never admit that he is.

From the Back Cover

Be an instant expert on opera and bluff your way with all aficionados. No grand gestures required, just a sense of humor.
From "legato" to the "vibrato", and from "Bellini" to "Rossini", the Bluffers Guide to Opera contains all you need to know to hit the high notes.

Bluffer's Guides is a series of snappy little books containing facts, jargon, and all you need to know for instant expertise.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oval Books
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1903096596
• ISBN 13: 9781903096598
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64