Opera is often regarded as the pinnacle of high art. A "Western" genre with global reach; it is where music and drama come together in unique ways; supported by stellar singers and spectacular scenic effects. Yet it is also patently absurd -- why should anyone break into song on the dramatic stage? -- and shrouded in mystique. In this engaging and entertaining guide; renowned music scholar Tim Carter unravels its many layers to offer a thorough introduction to Italian opera from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries.Eschewing the technical musical detail that all too often dominates writing on opera; Carter begins instead where the composers themselves did: with the text. Walking readers through the relationship between music and poetry that lies at the heart of any opera; Carter then offers explorations of five of the most enduring and emblematic Italian operas: Monteverdis The Coronation of Poppea; Handels Julius Caesar in Egypt; Mozarts The Marriage of Figaro; Verdis Rigoletto; and Puccinis La Boh?me. Shedding light on the creative collusions and collisions involved in bringing opera to the stage; the various; and varying; demands of the text and music; and the nature of its musical drama; Carter also shows how Italian opera has developed over the course of music history. Complete with synopses; cast lists; and suggested further reading for each work discussed; Understanding Italian Opera is a must-read for anyone with an interest in and love for this glorious art.
#1673645 in eBooks 2016-04-14 2016-04-14File Name: B015JUDXP4
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