Who's Afraid of Opera?

by Michael Walsh

Opera is very much in the public eye--and ear. Here is a lively and readable guide to this inspiring branch of classical music--for anyone who has already discovered the joy of opera and anyone who would like to.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1994

About the author

Michael Walsh was for 16 years the classical music critic for Time Magazine and has also worked for the San Francisco Examiner and the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. He is the author of eleven books, including five works of non-fiction as well as the novels Exchange Alley, As Time Goes By (the authorized sequel to the movie Casablanca), and And All the Saints, a winner of the 2004 American Book Awards for fiction. His novel, Hostile Intent, was published in September by Pinnacle Books and hit the New York Times bestseller lists and shot to No. 1 on Kindle. The sequel, Early Warning, was published in Sept., 2010. With Gail Parent, he is the co-writer of the hit Disney Channel 2002 Original Movie, Cadet Kelly, at the time the highest-rated show in the history of the network.

Reviews

[J.M. Hushour · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly douchey, but a fair introduction to the genre with a recommended listening list and a logic that is nice and really the best thing here. Walsh, writing in the mid-90s, comes across as one of those insufferable people who periodically interrupt what would otherwise be a nice intro to opera for the lay person with his pointless non-apologies for being white, writing about a mostly white-dominated genre, and delights in deriding those who think we should be nice to others on a culturally relativistic basis. Whatever. If he had just stuck to the opera and kept his numbing intolerances to himself, I would've enjoyed this a lot more. As it is, I stopped reading when he started making fun of people who think the thousands spent on opera might be better spent on the homeless and mocked the pretension of "feelings".
Anyway, there is a nice suggested listening list and some commentary on those which is nifty for someone who knows squat about opera, proof that when he de-douches, he can be of value in some small way.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did what I needed it to do, but contrary to his own claims, he assumes all kinds of opera knowledge on the part of the reader. Often reads more like an attempt to make the reader feel like part of an elite inner ring than like an earnestly introduction to the genre. Marred and dated by all his “anti-PC” talk.

[Jennifer]

Clearly written and informative, with just enough personal bias by the author to make for an entertaining read. It's amusing to see what he picked, in 1994, as enduring works that just...aren't. Still, a nice foot-in-the-door reference to the world of Opera, though maybe not as well-done as Opera for Dummies.

[Jenny Gendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book about the enjoyment of opera, and it did a wondeful job of explaining to me how to increase my fascination with and enjoyment of the opera. I look forward to being able to use the knowlege learned with the next opera experience.

[Susan]

This book is perfect "airport fiction." I took it on my flight to London. It's clever, true, good stuff.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book!

[Benjamin J. Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read, even for someone very familiar with Opera. Good introduction and guide to appreciating more than the few you may be familiar with.