Life of Rossini

Richard Coe

ISBN 10: 071450632X / ISBN 13: 9780714506326

Published by Riverrun Pr, 1982

Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.55. Seller Inventory # G071450632XI3N00

Synopsis:

Rossini's popularity in Italy in the early 1820s was certainly
not echoed in France where he was regarded as `an ill-bred parvenu, whose
cheap popularity was an insult to a great musical tradition' and thus
Stendhal, always an obstinate individualist, was the first of his
contemporaries to recognise the genius of this important Italian composer.

Stendhal's introduction to this book sets the musical climate in
perspective with a history of the interregnum between the death of Cimarosa
and the coming of Rossini. Details of Rossini's early life are followed by
penetrating discussions in the operas, libretti, personalities of the
period, and on Rossini's own character - indeed a whole chapter is devoted
to his wild sense of humour. No book of its period better captures the
atmosphere of opera-going during the birth-period of Romantic music.

Besides being a fascinating and penetrating account of this popular Italian
composer's most creative years and of contemporary musical events and
opinions, this work is one of the finest items in the Stendhalian literary
canon. Richard Coe's eloquent translation (revised for the second edition)
and careful annotations do full justice to the incandescent strength of
this great French writer's prose style.

Review: "The best appreciation of Rossini ever written." --Ernest Newman, author, "The Wagner Operas"

Bibliographic Details

Title: Life of Rossini
Publisher: Riverrun Pr
Publication Date: 1982
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
Edition: 2nd Edition