
In Character
Opera Portraiture
John F. Martin(Author)
Amadeus Press
Will be published approx. on 1. September 2014
Book
Hardback
212 pages
978-1-57467-453-8 (ISBN)
Description
In Character: Opera Portraiture memorably captures operatic performers away from the audience but fully inhabiting their roles. It showcases the work of John F. Martin, who for years set up a portable studio in the basement of the San Francisco Opera and photographed the players - in costume and full makeup - right before or after they took the stage. The subjects range from nonsinging supernumeraries through chorus members and comprimarii to opera's greatest stars, such as Anna Netrebko, Natalie Dessay, Deborah Voigt, Juan Diego Florez, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Their roles run the gamut of opera personalities: heroes and heroines, villains and outcasts, royalty and common folk, Biblical figures and creatures of myth. Facing Martin's camera, each artist projects the essence of his or her character, however great or small the part.
The book also features a foreword by author Amy Tan; a preface by David Gockley, general director of the San Francisco Opera; essays on opera behind the scenes, the vital role of costumes, and the transformation of singers into characters; and an interview with world-renowned soprano Danielle de Niese. A collection unlike any other, In Character will have broad appeal-to opera and theater buffs, costume and fashion aficionados, and anyone who appreciates fine art photography.
The book also features a foreword by author Amy Tan; a preface by David Gockley, general director of the San Francisco Opera; essays on opera behind the scenes, the vital role of costumes, and the transformation of singers into characters; and an interview with world-renowned soprano Danielle de Niese. A collection unlike any other, In Character will have broad appeal-to opera and theater buffs, costume and fashion aficionados, and anyone who appreciates fine art photography.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Hal Leonard Corporation
Dimensions
Height: 313 mm
Width: 237 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
1311 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-57467-453-8 (9781574674538)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John F. Martin (Graton, CA) is a photographer with 25 years of experience and a passion for opera. His publications include a commemorative book on Amy Tan's opera The Bonesetter's Daughter, and his work has appeared in periodicals such as Visual Artbeat and blogs such as Elizabeth Avedon, F-Stop Magazine, and Lenscratch. His work is in the SFMOMA Artists Gallery and the Fowler Museum at UCLA.