Opera: A Listener's Guide

by Jack Sacher

A Listener's Guide offers a complete introduction to the world's greatest theatrical music, for both the beginning listener and the experienced connoisseur. The book opens with an overview of the special powers of opera; how the form combines music and drama, with examples drawn from masterpieces from the birth of opera to today. An explanation of the symbols and metaphors found in the words and music reveals how the deeper meanings of operatic performance are given shape and expression. The book's second part explores the relation of opera to the human condition. The book's heart is a comprehensive examination of 11 key operas. For each work, there is a discussion of its historical and literary backgrounds, its importance in shaping the history of the genre, and its position in the life of the work of the composer. A deep discussion of each opera's plot and music, give insight into these masterpieces. The center of each study is a scene-by-scene presentation of the details of the plot and the nature of the music that brings those details to life. Each study also includes a focused reading list.

511 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1997