This concise edition of the critically-acclaimed New Penguin Opera Guide focusses on the composers and works most frequently performed today - ranging from Britten to Massenet, and from Mozart to Wagner. Composer biographies are accompanied by informed articles on individual operas, offering plot synopses, musical analysis and general commentary.
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Praise for The New Penguin Opera Guide: 'For range, breadth, enthusiasm and common sense, Amanda Holden's labour of love is already irreplaceable' Dennis Marks, Observer
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MIKHAIL GLINKA
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka; b 1 June 1804, Novospasskoye, Russia; d 15 February 1857, Berlin.
Glinka was by no means the first Russian to compose opera, yet he was indisputably the founder of the Russian operatic tradition. Born into a minor landowning family, he was educated in St Petersburg, then settled into the role of a dilettante in the city's salons. Though he had had no proper musical education, he composed a good many undemanding songs and piano pieces, and shared in the current Russian taste for French opera, as well as for Rossini. But by the end of the 1820s Italian opera in general was becoming his central interest, and in 1830 he left for a three-year residence in Italy. He met Bellini, soaked himself in the Italian tradition, but by the end of his stay was turning against it; as he himself put it: `I could not sincerely be Italian. A longing for my own country led me gradually to the idea of writing in the Russian manner.' On his return journey he delayed five months in Berlin for the only formal composition study of his whole life. The following year he began his first opera, Ivan Susanin (better known as A Life for the Tsar), and it was a sensation at its first performance in 1836.
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Adamo started writing stories at the age of seven and at high school taught himself the piano. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Adamo started writing stories at the age of seven and at high school taught himself the piano. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By hazza
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Perfect companion to anyone who likes listening or watching opera, but has no idea what they are listening to or watching - really insightful and detailed. Like a lonely planet guide to opera!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book tells you all about Opera that you want know.For a novice on this subject it explains it just as it should be.
23 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By Mir Ruth
Format:Paperback
After years of parental pressure I've given in and bought a book on Opera. I've also started listening to Classic FM. (Oh and I've started listening to my father's ramblings.) Must be a sign of maturity.
This book has been a great little companion for entering the world of Opera - something of an enigma to me until now.
Bravo.
This book has been a great little companion for entering the world of Opera - something of an enigma to me until now.
Bravo.
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