The Cambridge Companion to Grand Opera (Cambridge Companions to Music)

This 2003 Companion is a fascinating and accessible exploration of the world of grand opera. Through this volume a team of scholars and writers on opera examine those important Romantic operas which embraced the Shakespearean sweep of tragedy, history, love in time of conflict, and the struggle for national self-determination. Rival nations, rival religions and violent resolutions are common elements, with various social or political groups represented in the form of operatic choruses. The book traces the origins and development of a style created during an increasingly technical age, which exploited the world-renowned skills of Parisian stage-designers, artists, and dancers as well as singers. It analyses in detail the grand operas by Rossini, Auber, Meyerbeer and Halévy, discusses grand opera in Russia and Germany, and also in the Czech lands, Italy, Britain and the Americas. The volume also includes an essay by the renowned opera director David Pountney. In This Companion, A Team Of Scholars And Writers On Opera Examine Those Important Romantic Operas That Embraced The Shakespearean Sweep Of Tragedy, History, Love In Time Of Conflict, And The Struggle For National Self-determination. Rival Nations, Rival Religions, And Violent Resolutions Are Common Elements, With Various Social Or Political Groups Represented In The Form Of Operatic Choruses. The Book Traces The Origins And Development Of A Style Created During An Increasingly Technical Age, Which Exploited The World-renowned Skills Of Parisian Stage-designers, Artists, And Dancers As Well As Singers. It Analyses In Detail The Grand Operas By Rossini, Auber, Meyerbeer And Halevy, And Discusses Grand Opera In Russia ,germany, The Czech Lands, Italy, Britain, And The Americas. Pt. 1. The Resourcing Of Grand Opera. The 'machine' And The State / Hervé Lacombe -- Fictions And Librettos / Nicholas White -- The Spectacle Of The Past In Grand Opera / Simon Williams -- The Chorus / James Parakilas -- Dance And Dancers / Marian Smith -- Roles, Reputations, Shadows : Singers At The Opéra, 1828-1849 / Mary Ann Smart -- Pt. 2. Revaluation And The Twenty-first Century. Directing Grand Opera : Rienzi And Guillaume Tell At The Vienna State Opera / David Pountney -- Pt. 3. Grand Operas For Paris. La Muette And Her Context / Sarah Hibberd -- Scribe And Auber : Constructing Grand Opera / Herbert Schneider -- Meyerbeer : Robert Le Diable And Les Huguenots / Matthias Brzoska -- Meyerbeer : Le Prophète And L'africaine / John H. Roberts -- The Grand Operas Of Fromental Halévy / Diana R. Hallman -- From Rossini To Verdi / M. Elizabeth C. Bartlet -- After 1850 At The Paris Opéra : Institution And Repertory / Steven Huebner -- Pt. 4. Transformations Of Grand Opera. Richard Wagner And The Legacy Of French Grand Opera / Thomas Grey -- Grand Opera In Russia : Fragments Of An Unwritten History / Marina Frolova-walker -- Grand Opera Among The Czechs / Jan Smaczny -- Italian Opera / Fiamma Nicolodi -- Grand Opera In Britain And The Americas / Sarah Hibberd. Edited By David Charlton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 470-475) And Index. pt. 1. The resourcing of grand operas. The 'machine' and the state / Hervé Lacombe Fictions and librettos / Nicholas White The spectacle of the past in grand opera / Simon Williams The chorus / James Parakilas Dance and dancers / Marian Smith Roles, reputations, shadows : singers at the Opéra, 1828-1849 / Mary Ann Smart. pt. 2. Revaluation and the twenty-first century. Directing grand opera : Rienzi and Guillaume Tell at the Vienna State Opera / David Pountney. pt. 3. Grand operas for Paris. La Muette and her context / Sarah Hibberd Scribe and Auber : constructing grand opera / Herbert Schneider Meyerbeer : Robert le Diable and Les Huguenots / Matthias Brzoska Meyerbeer : Le Prophète and L'Africaine / John H. Roberts The grand operas of Fromental Halévy / Diana R. Hallman From Rossini to Verdi / M. Elizabeth C. Bartlet After 1850 at the Paris Opéra : institution and repertory / Steven Huebner. pt. 4. Transformations of grand opera. Richard Wagner and the legacy of French grand opera / Thomas Grey Grand opera in Russia : fragments of an unwritten history / Marina Frolova-Walker Grand opera among the Czechs / Jan Smaczny Italian opera / Fiamma Nicolodi Grand opera in Britain and the Americas / Sarah Hibberd. A fascinating and accessible exploration of the world of grand opera, examining important Romantic operas and the grand operas of Rossini, Auber, Meyerbeer and Halévy, among others. The 2003 volume also includes an essay by the renowned opera director David Pountney. A Fascinating And Accessible Exploration Of The World Of Grand Opera, First Published In 2003.