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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 24, 2017
This is a solid book that provides the quick & dirty on opera with regard to a historical overview, a breakdown of the different styles, vocab, and sections dedicated to profiles of the greatest singers, composers, and opera works. It's written by a diehard opera lover who makes an effort to show that your enthusiasm for opera (if you should happen to develop it) should come from the heart and from listening to what moves you on an emotional level rather than what textbooks and published critics tell you is "the best". I think that's a really great approach for an introduction to an art that the overwhelming majority of newbies are going to think is stuffy/pretentious/irrelevant/boring. This book does a great of making the case for opera as vital, passionate, and not that far removed from the great singing in the R&B, gospel, big band, show tunes, & jazz traditions. Fair warning: this book was written in 1995 by a dude who was then in his 50s or 60s and boy is is NOT PC. There are frequent references to "bimbos, broads, & bitches", he jokingly asks if Maria Callas was retarded, there are some lascivious asides about some romantic operas plots etc etc. I'd let any one (or even a few) of these slide based on it being "a different time" if there weren't so many instances. Toward the end you kind of have to suppress an eye-roll on every other page but if you want to get the basics on opera along with some great listening recommendations I'd say go for it.
May 10, 2025
"Ópera para principiantes" es un libro ameno, con mucho humor bien dosificado, que facilita el acercamiento a un mundo a veces considerado por muchos como inaccesible. Está dividido en cuatro partes: una introducción histórica sobre la ópera y sus compositores, un repaso por figuras destacadas del canto lírico, algunos consejos para escuchar ópera, y un resumen argumental de varias obras famosas. La primera parte me resultó demasiado básica, especialmente si ya se tiene cierto conocimiento sobre el tema. En cambio, la segunda —dedicada a los cantantes de ópera— me pareció lo más interesante del libro, con anécdotas y enfoques que no suelen aparecer en introducciones generales. La tercera sección también tiene valor, sobre todo para quienes están empezando a explorar este género. La cuarta, si bien está bien organizada, me resultó poco novedosa porque ya conocía la mayoría de las óperas mencionadas, por lo que aprendí poco en ese tramo. Aun así, entiendo que puede ser útil para quien se inicia ya que le acercará las sinopsis de las obras que siempre es bueno conocer antes de oír (en ópera los spoilers no vienen mal).
Es un buen libro para principiantes, como su título indica, y me llevo varias recomendaciones que quiero seguir explorando. Le doy tres estrellas: entretenido, claro, pero quizás demasiado introductorio si ya venís con algo de recorrido.
Es un buen libro para principiantes, como su título indica, y me llevo varias recomendaciones que quiero seguir explorando. Le doy tres estrellas: entretenido, claro, pero quizás demasiado introductorio si ya venís con algo de recorrido.
April 21, 2013
"Sex is repressed opera" (Sigmund Floyd, as quoted in this book). Unfortunately, not everyone buys this statement. Indeed, in many circles the love of opera is regarded as inexplicably weird. For those people this book was written. After all, what is life without opera? All one need to do is open oneself to it.
This is a delightful and humorous booklet, written as an introduction to opera, but probably more commonly read by people who value the highest form of entertainment already. The book is full of anecdotes and stories about opera and about those involved in and with its many facets. I heartedly recommend it to all opera lovers, to all opera haters, and also to anyone why likes a good laugh.
This is a delightful and humorous booklet, written as an introduction to opera, but probably more commonly read by people who value the highest form of entertainment already. The book is full of anecdotes and stories about opera and about those involved in and with its many facets. I heartedly recommend it to all opera lovers, to all opera haters, and also to anyone why likes a good laugh.
July 27, 2010
Excellent introduction to history, theory and type; with a guide to major works. Ron David could stand to interject his politics a little less into the writing, esp. when they have nothing to do with the subject at hand. Also, some of the historical/political asides, if they have to be left in, could do with a little nuance. Never the less, a great intro - easy to read and to understand.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews