Opera and Its Symbols: The Unity of Words, Music, and Staging

by Robert Donington

Explains the use of symbolism in opera, interprets scenes from Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Stravinsky, and Britten, and stresses the importance of staging an opera in accord with the composer's intended use of symbols

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 26, 1990

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

An old man tells of the enduring power of archetypes and symbols, then proceeds to bitch that most opera productions today intentionally obscure those enduring symbols. Contradictory argument, not a great read.