Literature As Opera

Literature As Opera

The author examines the fascinating circumstances in which composers have found works of literature suitable for opera, & how they have transmuted into musical & dramatic terms the essential features of works that in some cases may not ever have been plays. Each work here described has proved a classic both in its original form & on the musical stage - the book illustrates 9 different genres. There are musical examples & some photos throughout the book. Main chapters: *An opening perspective *Handel: Orlando, Ariodante, Alcina *Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro *Conizetti: Maria Stuarda & Lucia de Lammermoor *Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini *Verdi: Macbeth *Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin *Strauss: Salome *Alban Berg: Wozzeck *Benjamin Britten: Death in Venice *Afterword