The History of Opera For Beginners - Softcover

David, Ron

Softcover

ISBN 10: 193438979X ISBN 13: 9781934389799

Publisher: For Beginners, 2013

Synopsis

The History of Opera For Beginners is a humorous, little book which starts with the radical assumption that Opera is just plain old music, rather than the highbrow, inaccessible music that everyone assumes it to be. The reader will learn the difference between Italian and German Opera and why you don’t have to study a new language to enjoy Opera.

The History of Opera For Beginners is an ideal introduction for people who are convinced that opera is solely for those refined few who were born listening to arias. Written in short, humorous, and informative chapters, and laced with some of the opera world's juiciest anecdotes, this guide is sure to convert even the most ambivalent of music lovers.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Opera For Beginners is a humorous, irreverent little book that starts with the radical assumption that Opera is just plain ol' music. Not snob music. Not uppity music. Gettin' down music! Italian Rock'n'roll, R&B Gospel, let-it-all-hang-out music. "If you must know the truth", David writes, "in Detroit where I grew up, there weren't a lot of Opera houses. I was brought up on Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Elvis the Pelvis, the Drifters, Platters, Ella, Sinatra, Miles, Coltrane, Mahalia, Beatles, Stones, Aretha ... in other words ... Real music! Which is why I'm the perfect person to introduce you to Opera". The book builds from the similarity between specific Opera singers and "normal" singers (e.g., Maria Callas/Billie Holiday; Caruso/Mahalia Jackson; Benjamino Gigli/Smokey Robinson), points out the essentially Operatic styles of many pop singers, and the profound similarity between Opera and Gospel singing. (It's no accident that African-American sopranos are singing in Opera houses all over the world!). Opera For Beginners explains the differences between Italian and German Opera - it's more than just the language - and why you don't have to understand Italian, German, French or Rap to enjoy Opera. David's enthusiasm and wit are sure to entice many Opera-haters to give Opera a chance. And Paul Gordon's spot-on cartoons illustrate the text, carry on dialogues with it, wisecrack it, create stories alongside it, sprinkle it lavishly with motifs...enough!

About the Author:

Ron David grew up in Detroit, attended Wayne State University and the Detroit Society of Arts & Crafts and served three years in the Army. For years he earned his living as an industrial clay sculptor (Detroit, New York, California and Sweden) and spent 20-30 hours per week writing books. Ron was awarded a Grant from the New Jersey Council on the Arts for one of his novels. He also spent four years as Editor-in-Chief at Writers and Readers Publishing. He is the author of four published books including Toni Morrison Explained: A Reader’s Road Map to the Novels (Random House). Ron David has been married to Susan David (an artist/designer at Tiffany & Co.) for 30 years.

About this edition

• Publisher: For Beginners
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 193438979X
• ISBN 13: 9781934389799
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176
• Illustrator: Woolley Sarah