When the Fat Lady Sings: Opera History as It Ought to be Taught (Indent Publishing)

35th-Anniversary English Edition

(When the Fat Lady Sings has been translated into Japanese, Polish and Italian over it's over 35 years as a bestseller.)

David. W. Barber has delighted readers all around the world with the quirky definitions of Accidentals on Purpose, the irreverent history of Bach, Beethoven for Kids, Bach, Beethoven and the Boys and Bach, Beethoven and the Grrrls, a hilariously offbeat history of dance and ballet in Tutus, Tights and Tiptoes and a host of other internationally bestselling books of musical humor and literature.

With When the Fat Lady Sings, the popular author and musical humorist turns his attention to what Dr. Johnson called that “exotick and irrational entertainment,” the world of opera. Here are stories of love and lusty, jealousy, intrigue, murder and tragic death – and that’s just the stuff happening off stage, in the composers’ personal lives. Wait till you read about the opera plots. Informal yet informative, witty yet wise, this book will both enlighten and entertain you. As always, Dave Donald has provided witty and clever cartoons that perfectly complement the text.

This is a very humorous book, but at the same time it tells it like it is, or was. David’s not really fabricating anything, he just manages to give you the gist of the history while leaving out all the boring bits.”
– Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester

“I must say I still adore opera. I know it is just as silly as Mr. Barber says it is, but I love it.”
– musical humorist Anna Russell

David Barber is a journalist, author, composer and performer who lives and works in Toronto.

Dave Donald works as an art director for a Toronto-based national magazine.