Inventing the Business of Opera (Paperback)

Beth Glixon

8 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by Oxford University Press Inc, New York, 2007

0195342976 / 9780195342970

  • Softcover
  • New
See all details

Seller: CitiRetail, Stevenage, United KingdomCitiRetail

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 29, 2022

Softcover

Condition: New

£ 53.49

£ 37.00 shipping 
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

Paperback. In mid seventeenth-century Venice, opera first emerged from courts and private drawing rooms to become a form of public entertainment. Early commercial operas were elaborate spectacles, featuring ornate costumes and set design along with dancing and music. As ambitious works of theater, these productions required not only significant financial backing, but also strong managers to oversee several months of rehearsals and performances. These impresarios wereresponsible for every facet of production from contracting the cast to balancing the books at season's end. The systems they created still survive, in part, today.Inventing the Businessof Opera explores public opera in its infancy, from 1637 to 1677, when theater owners and impresarios established Venice as the operatic capital of Europe. Drawing on extensive new documentation, the book studies all of the components necessary to opera production, from the financial backing of various populations of Venice, to the commissioning and creation of the libretto and the score; the recruitment and employment of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists; the production of thescenery and the costumes, and, the nature of the audience; and, finally, the issue of patronage. Throughout the book, the problems faced by impresarios come into new focus. The authors chronicle the progress ofMarco Faustini, the impresario most well known today, who made his way from one of Venice's smallest theaters to one of the largest. His companies provide the most personal view of an impresario and his partners, who ranged from Venetian nobles to artisans. Throughout the book, Venice emerges as a city that prized novelty over economy, with new repertory, scenery, costumes, and expensive singers the rule rather than the exception. The authors examine the challenges faced by four separateVenetian theaters during the seventeenth century: San Cassiano, the first opera theater, the Novissimo, the small Sant'Aponal, and San Luca, established in 1660. Only two of them would survive past the1650s.Through close examination of an extraordinary cache of documents--including personal papers, account books, and correspondence -- Beth and Jonathan Glixon provide a comprehensive view of opera production in mid-seventeenth century Venice. For the first time in a study of opera, an emphasis is placed on the physical production -- the scenery, costumes, and stage machinery -- that tied these opera productions to the social and economic life of the city. This originaland meticulously researched study will be of strong interest to all students of opera and its history. Inventing the Business of Opera explores public opera in its infancy, bringing to life the men and women who successfully established the new genre on the stages of Venice during the seventeenth century. All of the components necessary to opera production are highlighted, from the financial backing, to the libretto and the score, to the singers, dancers, the scenery, and the costumes. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.…

Seller Inventory # 9780195342970

Title
Inventing the Business of Opera (Paperback)
Author
Beth Glixon
Publisher
Oxford University Press Inc, New York
Publication year
2007
Condition
new
Binding
Paperback
Language
English
ISBN 10
0195342976
ISBN 13
9780195342970

CitiRetail

Stevenage, United Kingdom

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 29, 2022

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Item7 to 14 business days7 to 60 business days
First item£ 37.00£ 37.00
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Store description

Online business

Seller's business information

ABC BOOKS LIMITED

10 John Street
London, United Kingdom WC1N 2EB