Weep, Shudder, Die: A Guide to Loving Opera - Hardcover

Levine, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006194131X ISBN 13: 9780061941313

Publisher: It Books, 2011

Synopsis

"Icouldn't imagine a finer or livelier guide through the world of opera. . . . [Levine] distills a lifetime of passion and insight into this immenselyenjoyable survey, and with the right comic touch to make you wonder how operaever seemed intimidating." —Thomas May, author of Decoding Wagner

Despitethe popular success of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Live in HD” series, opera’s grandworld of soaring sopranos and breathtaking baritones—of tragic Rigoletto, triumphal Sigmund, and desperate Orfeo, of faithful Figaro, heartbroken Pagliacci,and lusty Don Giovanni—remains wrapped in an aura of impenetrable esotericism.Piercing this veil of opera’s perceived inaccessibility, acclaimed classicalmusic critic Robert Levine extends a witty and insightfulinvitation to enjoy opera in Weep, Shudder, Die, offering a newgeneration of aficionados a priceless way to access to music’s greatest achievement.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Weep, Shudder, Die is an insightful and accessible guide to the grand art of opera for both new and longtime fans.

For too long opera was relegated to high society and perceived as stuffy and remote. But now that has changed. A new generation of opera lovers has emerged, inviting a wave of extraordinary new productions and revivals the world over.

Robert Levine has written an illuminating guide for this growing audience. With his signature wit, he examines the most famous composers and operas, from Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen to Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, giving a sense of each opera's history and celebrating its enduring greatness.

Weep, Shudder, Die will inspire anyone who has ever been curious about opera but never knew where to start to discover one of the world's most entertaining and satisfying art forms.

About the Author:

Robert Levine is a classical music and opera critic and senior editor at www.classicstoday.com. He is the author of Maria Callas: A Musical Biography and the children's book The Story of the Orchestra, among others.

About this edition

• Publisher: It Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 006194131X
• ISBN 13: 9780061941313
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256