The Oxford History of Opera - Couverture souple

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0192840282 ISBN 13 : 9780192840288

Editeur : Oxford Paperbacks, 1996

Synopsis

In "The Oxford History of Opera" the history and social context of opera is explored by a group of leading British and American scholars, under the editorship of Roger Parker. The core of the book is a historical survey of opera, from its beginnings in Florence 400 years ago, up to opera in the 1990s. The greatest coverage is given to the 19th century, the time during which most of the operas performed today were composed. There are also chapters on the history of staging, on opera singers, on opera as a social occasion through the ages, and a chronology. Although all major composers of opera are mentioned, and their works discussed, the various chapters concentrate less on simple historical narrative, and more on the complex development of opera, especially on its relationship with the other arts and its place within the broader world of culture and politics. The contributors have remained alive to the basic attraction of opera: its extravagant appeal to both the senses and the intellect, and its seemingly inexhaustible power to move and astonish.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

In this lavishly illustrated volume the history and social context of opera is explored by a group of leading British and American scholars, under the editorship of Roger Parker. The core of the book is a historical survey of opera, from its beginnings in Florence four hundred years ago, up to opera in the 1990s. The greatest coverage is given to the nineteenth century, the time during which most of the operas performed today were composed. There are also chapters on the history of staging, on opera singers, on opera as a social occasion through the ages, and a chronology. Although all major composers of opera are mentioned, and their works discussed, the various chapters concentrate less on simple historical narrative and more on the complex development of opera, especially on its relationship with the other arts and its place within the broader world of culture and politics. The numerous illustrations -- nearly three hundred, some thirty of which are in colour -- serve the vital purpose of underlining the richly visual nature of opera: the manner in which it communicates so vividly through staging and costume, and the spectacular way in which it often reflects the cultural concerns of the age. Rather than simply illustrating the text, the pictures work as a kind of parallel history, supplementing and enriching the verbal narrative. The contributors are all experts in their chosen areas, but all of them have remained alive to the basic attraction of opera: its extravagant appeal to both the senses and the intellect, and its seemingly inexhaustible power to move and astonish us.

Biographie de l'auteur

Roger Parker - editor. Moved to a lectureship in Music at Oxford University, as a felllow of St Hugh's College -- having been Associate Professor of Music, at Cornell University. He has written extensively on Verdi, on nineteenth-century Italian opera, and is the founding co-editor of the Cambridge Opera Journal.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Oxford Paperbacks
• Date d'édition: 1996
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0192840282
• ISBN 13: 9780192840288
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 400
• Éditeur: Parker Roger
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8; Assago Milano; 20090; Italie