Opera for Everyone: A Historic, Social, Artistic, Literary, and Musical Study

by Jean Grundy Fanelli

Overview

Not your usual opera guide, this work forgoes the usual synopses of plots, biographical particulars, and anecdotes to concentrate instead on fundamental elements of opera examining it from many angles. With a discussion of such topics as those who created it—the musicians, writers, and artists—the outcome of their work, commissioners and producers, why opera developed as it did, why particular styles became popular, when operas were given and in what environment or political climate, the reaction of audiences, and the span of success. Opera is viewed, as much as possible, from a perspective of what audiences at the time would have expected and enjoyed. All aspects of opera are explained in language appropriate for those with varying levels of knowledge about the art form.
Each chapter features a particularly innovative period of operatic history and each focuses on representative and successful works of that era and concludes with a short selection of other works of the same period and style for further listening or viewing. Plates of little-known engravings—seven of Baroque stage productions—and a glossary, bibliography, and index round out the work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810848948
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/09/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.63(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Jean Grundy Fanelli is a freelance lecturer, journalist, and writer.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Table and Plates Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Introduction: About Opera Chapter 4 1. Before Opera Chapter 5 2. The First Operas Chapter 6 3. Opera in Mantua Chapter 7 4. Roman Opera: Serious and Comic Chapter 8 5. Opera in Venice Chapter 9 6. From Venice to France Chapter 10 7. Opera Abroad and Operatic Development in Italy Chapter 11 8. The Late Baroque Chapter 12 9. Comic Opera Chapter 13 10. Embers of Opera Seria Chapter 14 11. Mozart and Da Ponte Chapter 15 12. Rossini Chapter 16 13. Romanticism: From France to Germany Chapter 17 14. Italian Bel Canto, 1830-1835 Chapter 18 15. Romanticism with Patriotic Feeling Chapter 19 16. Grand Opéra and Counterbalance Chapter 20 17. Romantic Wagner Chapter 21 18. Italian Gloom and Despair Chapter 22 19. France after the Midcentury Chapter 23 20. Grand Opera and Music Drama Chapter 24 21. Oriental Influence Chapter 25 22. Realism and the Giovane Scuola Chapter 26 23. Clinging to Melody Chapter 27 24. Discordant Times Chapter 28 25. A reflection of One's Century Chapter 29 26. At the Millennium Chapter 30 Notes Chapter 31 Glossary Chapter 32 Bibliography: Further Reading Chapter 33 Bibliography: Text Citations Chapter 34 Index Chapter 35 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

...puts across the development of opera engagingly and with freshness.

Classical Music

For all levels from beginner to aficionado.

Reference and Research Book News

...puts across the development of opera engagingly and with freshness.--Classical Music

For all levels from beginner to aficionado.--Reference and Research Book News

From the Publisher