
Tosca
Giacomo Puccini(Author)
Gary Khan(Editor)
Overture Publishing
Published on 1. May 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
184 pages
978-1-84749-538-9 (ISBN)
Description
Tosca, one of Puccini's greatest and most popular operas, is a supreme example of music's power to enthral the audience. In his introductory essay to this guide, Bernard Williams discusses the enduring quality of its appeal. Bernard Keeffe, in his article, analyses different aspects of the score, noting Puccini's special genius for orchestration and the subtle effects that give the opera its irresistible vitality, while Stuart Woolf's survey of the historical background reveals its political and nationalistic undertones. Enriched by twenty-five archive photographs, a detailed thematic analysis, the original libretto with the facing literal translation and a section containing up-to-date discographical and bibliographical information, this guide will prove an invaluable companion for opera-goers and anyone wanting to delve deeper into the genesis, history and significance of Puccini's work.
Reviews / Votes
These guides, so beautiful to have and to behold, mark a huge advance on their predecessors. I find them essential supplements, not only to ENO and Royal Opera programmes, but to recordings issued on CD which often come without scholarly documentation and a libretto. The performance histories - of which I wrote one myself - are especially valuable, and not easily accessible elsewhere. -- Hugh Canning of The Sunday Times For anyone with a keen interest in opera, whatever their level of knowledge, this series remains a benchmark of quality and clarity. The content is serious, reliable and trustworthy, handsomely put together, full of variety and scholarship but always making the practical experience of going to the opera a priority. I return to these volumes again and again and find the updated and new issues absolutely invaluable. -- Fiona Maddocks of The Observer This uniformly excellent series is indispensable for the serious opera lover, all the more so now that almost all the CD companies have abandoned issuing a libretto with their opera releases, and have such scant background information. The English translations are on facing pages with the original texts, and in all respects the books are helpful and compact, and interestingly illustrated. -- Michael Tanner of The Spectator I am delighted to see the return of the ENO Opera Guides, bigger and even more authoritative than before. There are authoritative new articles as well as several of the irreplaceable originals, the presentation is very handsome and a decided gain is the brilliantly chosen selection of production images, in colour as well as black and white. The Guides are an invaluable reference for opera lovers at any level. -- David Nice of The Arts DeskMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Richmond
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Alma Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
242 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84749-538-9 (9781847495389)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Persons
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was born in Lucca into a family of musicians and composers. His operas, which include Tosca, La Bohe`me, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the international repertory.