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Handel's Bestiary: In Search of Animals in Handel's Operas
When acclaimed novelist Donna Leon is not conjuring up tales of crime and corruption in Venice, or reveling in delicious cuisine, she is listening to music. For Leon, patron of conductor Alan Curtis and his celebrated orchestra Il Complesso Barocco, that usually means the work of her favorite composer, George Frideric Handel.
Over the years, Leon has noticed that the great musician filled his operas with arias that make reference to animals; rich in symbolism, the perceived virtues and vices of the lion, bee, nightingale, snake, elephant, and tiger, among others, resonate in his works. In Handel's Bestiary, Leon draws on her love of Handel and her expertise in medieval bestiaries—illustrated collections of animal stories—to assemble a bestiary of her own. Twelve chapters trace twelve animals through history, mythology, and the arias. Each is joined by whimsical original illustrations by German painter Michael Sowa, and an accompanying CD includes each aria, expertly recorded by Il Complesso Barocco. A fascinating, utterly original book, Handel?s Bestiary springs to life with Leon's knowledge, passion, and wit.
Over the years, Leon has noticed that the great musician filled his operas with arias that make reference to animals; rich in symbolism, the perceived virtues and vices of the lion, bee, nightingale, snake, elephant, and tiger, among others, resonate in his works. In Handel's Bestiary, Leon draws on her love of Handel and her expertise in medieval bestiaries—illustrated collections of animal stories—to assemble a bestiary of her own. Twelve chapters trace twelve animals through history, mythology, and the arias. Each is joined by whimsical original illustrations by German painter Michael Sowa, and an accompanying CD includes each aria, expertly recorded by Il Complesso Barocco. A fascinating, utterly original book, Handel?s Bestiary springs to life with Leon's knowledge, passion, and wit.
- GenresNonfictionMusic
141 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Donna Leon
120 books2,961 followersDonna Leon (born September 29, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 27, 2011
Love Handel.Well,this is a wonderful book by a writer you would never expect to find writing it.Donna Leon is famous for her Brunetti novels but she also has a deep interest in Handel's operas and particularly the symbolism in the operas and even more particularly the animal symbolism in the operas.So this lovely little book is full of wonderful small paintings referencing the arias, which also can be found on an accompanying CD. So, it is a trifle, but a lovely one at that.
February 19, 2024
This is a real rip-off. It is touted as "twelve chapters that trace twelve animals through history, mythology, and the Handel arias they inhabit. Each exploration is joined by whimsical original illustrations by German painter Michael Sowa." Each of these 12 chapters consists of (on separate pages)
1) Title (e.g. MOTH)
2) Citation of the aria in which the animal is referenced
3) An illustration of the animal
4) The aria in Italian
5) The aria in English
6) A second illustration
and, finally some text about the animal as portrayed in medieval bestiaries usually running from 2 to 4 pages. This text is repetitive in that Leon tells us that the pictures in the Bestiaries don't actually look like the animals in question, that animal virtues are related to Christian ideals, and that later artists did better jobs at depicting the animals. She also attempts to explain why Handel's music is consistent with the message in the words of the arias.
There is a total of about 40-50 pages of actual information in this 200 page book. The Bestiary section is followed by some source material, such as who sang the parts in the various operas. Finally there is a 30 page excerpt from one of Leon's detective books. Don't waste your money.
1) Title (e.g. MOTH)
2) Citation of the aria in which the animal is referenced
3) An illustration of the animal
4) The aria in Italian
5) The aria in English
6) A second illustration
and, finally some text about the animal as portrayed in medieval bestiaries usually running from 2 to 4 pages. This text is repetitive in that Leon tells us that the pictures in the Bestiaries don't actually look like the animals in question, that animal virtues are related to Christian ideals, and that later artists did better jobs at depicting the animals. She also attempts to explain why Handel's music is consistent with the message in the words of the arias.
There is a total of about 40-50 pages of actual information in this 200 page book. The Bestiary section is followed by some source material, such as who sang the parts in the various operas. Finally there is a 30 page excerpt from one of Leon's detective books. Don't waste your money.
November 22, 2014
Interesting selection of snippets from Handel that deal with animals with text by Donna Leon, perhaps could be a bit more populist to make it more accessible, it seems to be preaching to the choir.
Want to Read
September 27, 2013What a lovely idea for a book!
November 2, 2014
Kurz aber sehr unterhaltsam und informativ...
March 16, 2024
This is a weird little book. I can't decide if it doesn't know what it wants to be, or if it's simply written for a very narrow audience. It's appearance makes it look like it's for middle-grade readers, but the content isn't always kid-friendly (both in terms of its appropriateness and in terms of interest--I have a hard time imagining too many kids who would want to read it (and I have a kiddo who checked out every juvenile book on Handel our library had because she wanted to learn more about him)).
It's a modern version of a medieval bestiary, looking at twelve animals that feature in Handel's operas. There's an accompanying CD, so you can listen to each aria as you read about the medieval conception of each of the animals, which was a rather lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
I didn't dislike reading it, but it's so niche that I can't imagine ever wanting to read it again or who I might recommend it to.
It's a modern version of a medieval bestiary, looking at twelve animals that feature in Handel's operas. There's an accompanying CD, so you can listen to each aria as you read about the medieval conception of each of the animals, which was a rather lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
I didn't dislike reading it, but it's so niche that I can't imagine ever wanting to read it again or who I might recommend it to.
January 4, 2022
This is interesting, but not compelling. It's probably only worth reading if you are a fan of both Donna Leon (which I am) and Handel's opera's (which I'm only a little).
February 26, 2017
An eclectic little book that would appeal to Handel fans. It includes historical, biographical, and musical references as well as wonderful illustrations of the animals.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews