Operatic Italian

This book focuses on "operatic Italian" (literary Italian in the classic mode) a.k.a. libretto Italian, or how to understand and translate Italian opera libretti. Parts of speech provide the framework, each of which is illustrated by extracts from many operas. The author works his way from the simple (nouns and articles) to the most complex (the past subjunctives) and en route clarifies many points of language: pronunciation, archaic language, convoluted syntax, datives of advantage, nuances and connotation, use of the passato remoto, etc. Included are chapters on the sounds and stress pattern of Italian, samples of its idioms, the limitations of translations and surtitles, suggested criteria for evaluating libretti, operatic aspects of canzoni, the influence of Dante, a short chapter on Neapolitan. The interlinear format helps the reader to see the connections between the Italian text and its English equivalents. IPA and music staff lines are used throughout. Fourteen quizzes enable the reader to monitor progress (these are also useful for a voice coach or teacher if the book is used as a text). Numerous photos illuminate the book and many useful url's (e.g. Lino Pertile reading Dante) help to orient those readers who wish to explore the subject on their own in greater depth. Sarah Luebke in 'Opera Today' writes: "This book would make a fantastic textbook for a conservatory or university." (Jan. 19, 2010) See Robert Thomson's site: www.godwinbooks.com

Robert Thomson was born in Vancouver in 1940. He graduated with honors (1st class) in French and Italian at the University of British Columbia. In 1966 he received his PhD from Yale University. After a career of teaching he retired at age 55, and founded a publishing house, Godwin Books. He is credited with raising awareness of several books by his great-uncle, George Godwin (1889-1974). These books had been out of print for decades. "The Eternal Forest" (1929) and "Why Stay We Here?" (1930--a memoir of World War One) have received wide critical acclaim. See www.godwinbooks.com Thomson wrote a shorter earlier book on operatic Italian: "Italian for the Opera" (1990). "Operatic Italian" is a massive expansion of that earlier work (460 pages versus 150 pages). Thomson spent his junior year in Florence, taught Italian at Emory University, and is fluent in Italian and French. He has also written a book, "Love songs in Spanish for Enjoyment and Learning."