On Opera

by Bernard Williams, Michael Tanner (Introduction)

Bernard Williams, who died in 2003, was one of the most influential moral philosophers of his generation. A lifelong opera lover, his articles and essays, talks for the BBC, contributions to the Grove Dictionary of Opera , and program notes for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the English National Opera, generated a devoted following. 

This elegant volume brings together these widely scattered and largely unobtainable pieces, including two that have not been previously published. It covers an engaging range of topics from Mozart to Wagner, including sparkling essays on specific operas by those composers as well as Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, Debussy, Janacek, and Tippett. Reflecting Williams’s brilliance, passion, and clarity of mind, these essays engage with, and illustrate, the enduring appeal of opera as an art form.

Genres: Music

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Sir Bernard Arthur Owen Williams was an English moral philosopher. His publications include Problems of the Self (1973), Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy (1985), Shame and Necessity (1993), and Truth and Truthfulness (2002). He was knighted in 1999.
As Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and Deutsch Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, Williams became known for his efforts to reorient the study of moral philosophy to psychology, history, and in particular to the Greeks. Described by Colin McGinn as an "analytical philosopher with the soul of a general humanist," he was sceptical about attempts to create a foundation for moral philosophy. Martha Nussbaum wrote that he demanded of philosophy that it "come to terms with, and contain, the difficulty and complexity of human life."
Williams was a strong supporter of women in academia; according to Nussbaum, he was "as close to being a feminist as a powerful man of his generation could be." He was also famously sharp in conversation. Gilbert Ryle, one of Williams's mentors at Oxford, said that he "understands what you're going to say better than you understand it yourself, and sees all the possible objections to it, and all the possible answers to all the possible objections, before you've got to the end of your own sentence."

Reviews

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Williams loves music but is happier discussing drama. I can relate to that.

[Charlesjhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no more important twentieth century philosopher than Bernard Williams. His love of opera is on full display, with brilliant insights. He was delighted to be appointed to the Board of the English National Opera. Williams died of cancer in 2003 and had not completed the work. His wife finally brought it to fruition. Williams is a difficult philosopher to read, but not like Heidegger or Derrida where style and obfuscation sometimes overrode thought. Williams was dealing with difficult subjects, in moral theory, but he made a real effort to bring human life into philosophy. He focuses on the "Great" operas, and there really is such a category of Handel, Rossini, Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and Wagner. With the exception of Handel I am in full accord.

[Ted Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I am not qualified to measure this work but I most certainly enjoyed lazily reading the pieces in this fine anthology. Professor Williams knew this subject. He loved opera. He thinks about it in comprehensive, innovative, and even provocative ways. I don't recall precisely when I read this but it was over a decade ago.

If you love opera or are intrigued by it, this is a fine work to enhance your apperception of it.

[Al Maki · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Bruce, you have to understand, opera is baseball for sissies." That was my friend Bruce's friend Arnold, not Bernard Williams. But the fans of each share certain qualities - a passion for the art, a passion for the lore and a disagreement about who is the greatest. Bernard Williams offers his opinions in this book in a manner similar to Moses descending from Cambridge, or was it Oxford. I must say I disagree with most of his opinions but I share his love of opera and I found the book interesting.