100 Great Operas And Their Stories: Act-By-Act Synopses
by Henry W. Simon
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Book Summary Information
Author: Henry W. SimonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1989-05-01
ISBN: 0385054483
Number of pages: 554
Publisher: Anchor
Book Reviews of 100 Great Operas And Their Stories: Act-By-Act Synopses
Book Review: If you watch opera, this book is an essential!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am new to opera but have fallen hard for it! I watched my first opera only 4 months ago at the Met Opera's live transmission in a movie theater. Since then I have watched over 20 operas online and this book has been an essential part of my understanding. My copy already has a bunch of sticky notes and comments written in it.
What to expect from this book:
-Character names (helps you keep everybody straight in those operas with big casts)
-General background information (setting time and place, first performance date, who wrote the music and libretto, and the literature it is based when applicable)
-Some background information about the opera, its creation, its composer and/or librettist(s)
-Act-by-act synopses that help you follow or prepare for the plot
-Brief historical notes when applicable
-Some very light criticism of the score or libretto (I found this insightful and overall agreed with his comments
What NOT to expect from this book:
-Biographies of composers or librettists
-In depth analysis of theme, political or historical context
-Advice about which operas are worth your time and which to skip
-Reviews of peformances or singers
-Reviews of recordings
So basically, this is a good bare-bones book that will get you the information you need to understand the plots. Whether you just always wondered what Aida was about or you are preparing to see a production in person or on video, this guide will be a good addition to your experience. It seems like with 100 operas, you'd find every one you'd want to see and that is overall true but there have been one or two that I was interested in but were not included, including newer operas (no problem - use the web). The writing has not aged AT ALL surprisingly enough. I completely recommend this book.
Summary of 100 Great Operas And Their Stories: Act-By-Act Synopses
An invaluable guide for both casual opera fans and afficionados, this volume contains act-by-act descriptions of operatic works ranging from the early seventeenth century masterworks of Monteverdi and Purcell to the modern classics of Menotti and Britten. Written in a lively anecdotal style, entries include character descriptions, historical background, and much more.Music Books
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