[audiobook] Fire in the Sea: Bioluminescence and Henry Compton's Art of the Deep (Gulf Coast Books; sponsored by Texas AM University-Corpus Christi) by David A. McKee; Henry Compton in Arts-Photography

Description

From the premiegrave;re of Rigoletto at Venicersquo;s La Fenice in 1851; the Dukersquo;s La donna egrave; mobile caught on with the public and has done much to ensure the ongoing popularity of Verdirsquo;s opera about the body in the sack. Rigoletto; the sarcastic court jester; is cursed by a nobleman who he has mocked. Subsequent events see the curse realised; as Rigolettorsquo;s daughter Gilda is kidnapped; raped; and later killed. The story; originally about King Franccedil;ois; contemporary of the English King Henry VIII; came from a novel by Victor Hugo; author of Les Miseacute;rables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Concerned by its combination of debauchery; seduction; rape by a king; regicide; kidnap and murder; the censors required the librettist Francesco Piave to relocate it from the Louvre in Paris to the court in Mantua.The wonderful music also includes the Dukersquo;s Questa o quella; Gildarsquo;s Caro nome; Rigolettorsquo;s Piangi! piangi fanciulla and the glorious ensemble Bella figlia dellrsquo;amore.Enrico Caruso made his deacute;but at the Metropolitan Opera House as Rigoletto. Others who have starred include Patti; Melba; Callas; Domingo and Pavarotti. Written by Michael Steen; author of the acclaimed The Lives and Times of the Great Composers; lsquo;Short Guides to Great Operasrsquo; are concise; entertaining and easy to read. They are packed with useful information and informed opinion; helping to make you a truly knowledgeable opera-goer; and so maximising your enjoyment of a great musical experience.Other lsquo;Short Guides to Great Operasrsquo; that you may enjoy include La Traviata; Tosca and Lucia di Lammermoor.