Understanding the Women of Mozart's Operas

Understanding the Women of Mozart's Operas PDF Author: Kristi Brown-Montesano
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520385799
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
Is The Marriage of Figaro just about Figaro? Is Don Giovanni’s story the only one—or even the most interesting one—in the opera that bears his name? For generations of critics, historians, and directors, it’s Mozart’s men who have mattered most. Too often, the female characters have been understood from the male protagonist’s point of view or simply reduced on stage (and in print) to paper cutouts from the age of the powdered wig and the tightly cinched corset. It’s time to give Mozart’s women—and Mozart’s multi-dimensional portrayals of feminine character—their due. In this lively book, Kristi Brown-Montesano offers a detailed exploration of the female roles in Mozart’s four most frequently performed operas, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and Die Zauberflöte. Each chapter takes a close look at the music, libretto text, literary sources, and historical factors that give shape to a character, re-evaluating common assumptions and proposing fresh interpretations. Brown-Montesano views each character as the subject of a story, not merely the object of a hero’s narrative or the stock figure of convention. From amiable Zerlina, to the awesome Queen of the Night, to calculating Despina, all of Mozart’s women have something unique to say. These readings also tackle provocative social, political, and cultural issues, which are used in the operas to define positive and negative images of femininity: revenge, power, seduction, resistance, autonomy, sacrifice, faithfulness, class, maternity, and sisterhood. Keenly aware of the historical gap between the origins of these works and contemporary culture, Brown-Montesano discusses how attitudes about such concepts—past and current—influence our appreciation of these fascinating representations of women.

Understanding the Women of Mozart's Operas

Understanding the Women of Mozart's Operas PDF Author: Kristi Brown-Montesano
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520385799
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 344

Get Book Here

Book Description
Is The Marriage of Figaro just about Figaro? Is Don Giovanni’s story the only one—or even the most interesting one—in the opera that bears his name? For generations of critics, historians, and directors, it’s Mozart’s men who have mattered most. Too often, the female characters have been understood from the male protagonist’s point of view or simply reduced on stage (and in print) to paper cutouts from the age of the powdered wig and the tightly cinched corset. It’s time to give Mozart’s women—and Mozart’s multi-dimensional portrayals of feminine character—their due. In this lively book, Kristi Brown-Montesano offers a detailed exploration of the female roles in Mozart’s four most frequently performed operas, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and Die Zauberflöte. Each chapter takes a close look at the music, libretto text, literary sources, and historical factors that give shape to a character, re-evaluating common assumptions and proposing fresh interpretations. Brown-Montesano views each character as the subject of a story, not merely the object of a hero’s narrative or the stock figure of convention. From amiable Zerlina, to the awesome Queen of the Night, to calculating Despina, all of Mozart’s women have something unique to say. These readings also tackle provocative social, political, and cultural issues, which are used in the operas to define positive and negative images of femininity: revenge, power, seduction, resistance, autonomy, sacrifice, faithfulness, class, maternity, and sisterhood. Keenly aware of the historical gap between the origins of these works and contemporary culture, Brown-Montesano discusses how attitudes about such concepts—past and current—influence our appreciation of these fascinating representations of women.

Who's who in Mozart's Operas

Who's who in Mozart's Operas PDF Author: Joachim Kaiser
Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
Profiles all of Mozart's major operatic characters, from Figaro and Don Giovanni to Countess Almaviva and the Queen of the Night from "The Magic Flute," describing each personality's drives, loves, hates, and passions.

International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory

International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory PDF Author: David M. Cummings
Publisher: Psychology Press
ISBN: 0948875534
Category : Composers
Languages : en
Pages : 878

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Book Description


Le nozze di Figaro

Le nozze di Figaro PDF Author: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Publisher: Alma Books
ISBN: 0714545333
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 131

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Book Description
John Wells introduces the opera with a high-spirited account of the action-packed career of the author, in many respects the prototype of Figaro himself. Basil Deane explores the score: he shows that Mozart's characters are illuminated here not so much in soliloquies but in their reactions to each other. Composer Stephen Oliver discusses how the comedy exists not just in the words but, essentially, in the music. The full Italian text is given, with a note on the order of scenes in Act Three and the alternative passages Mozart wrote for the 1789 revival. The classic translation of E.J. Dent is an excellent way to get to know the twists and turns of the plot and the stylish wit of da Ponte's innuendos.Contents: A Society Marriage, John Wells; A Musical Commentary, Basil Deane; Music and Comedy in 'The Marriage of Figaro, Stephen Oliver; Beaumarchais's Characters; Le nozze di Figaro: Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte; The Marriage of Figaro: English version by Edward J. Dent

Mozart's Women

Mozart's Women PDF Author: Jane Glover
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 0330470507
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description
Mozart was fascinated, amused, aroused, hurt, and betrayed by women. He loved and respected them, composed for them, performed with them. This unique biography looks at his interaction with each, starting with his family (his mother, Maria Anna and beloved and talented sister, Nannerl), and his marriage (which brought his 'other family', the Weber sisters). His relationships with his artists are examined, in particular those of his operas, through whose characters Mozart gave voice to the emotions of women who were, like his entire female acquaintance, restrained by the conventions and structures of eighteenth-century society. This is their story as well as his -- and shows once again that a great part of the composer’s genius was in his understanding and musical expression of human nature. Evocative and beautifully written, Mozart’s Women illuminates the music, the man, and above all the women who inspired him. 'Jane Glover has pulled off a coup des livres with her fresh take on Mozart's life and work’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Readable, informative and moving...Her passion for the music shines through this touching, vividly told story' Sunday Times

International Who's who in Music and Musical Gazetteer

International Who's who in Music and Musical Gazetteer PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 894

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Book Description


Who's who in British History: A-H

Who's who in British History: A-H PDF Author: Geoffrey Treasure
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 9781884964909
Category : British
Languages : en
Pages : 1490

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Book Description
A reference work which presents the history of Britain in biographical form. The two volumes contain over 1500 short biographies of men and women who played an important part in their time.

International Who's who in Music and Musical Gazetteer

International Who's who in Music and Musical Gazetteer PDF Author: César Saerchinger
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 890

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Book Description


Who's Afraid of Opera?

Who's Afraid of Opera? PDF Author: Michael Walsh
Publisher: Diversion Books
ISBN: 1626819661
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
For anyone who has been intimidated, overwhelmed, or just plain confused by what they think opera is, WHO’S AFRAID OF OPERA? offers a lively, readable guide to what author Michael Walsh describes as "the greatest art form yet invented by humankind." From opera's origins in Renaissance Italy to The Who's rock odyssey “Tommy” and Stephen Sondheim's “Into the Woods,” Walsh explores what opera is and what it's not, what makes a great singer, and why it takes Tristan so long to die. So curtain up! It's time to settle into your seat, close up your program, and watch the house lights go down. And get ready for the musical ride of your lives.

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro PDF Author: Michael Steen
Publisher: Icon Books Ltd
ISBN: 1848314590
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 55

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Book Description
Although the story of Figaro's success in preventing the Count of Almaviva's seduction of his fiancée Susanna was politically explosive, it was tolerated in the court of the relatively enlightened Habsburg Emperor Joseph II. Mozart's opera, Le Nozze di Figaro, uses a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, and was premièred in Vienna in 1786. It was based on a famous play by the Frenchman Beaumarchais, a sequel to The Barber of Seville. Characters including Figaro, the Countess, Cherubino the page, Doctor Bartolo and Barberina the gardener's daughter sing a succession of famous arias – such as Se vuol ballare, Non più andrai, Dove sono, Porgi amor and Voi, che sapete, to mention but a few – in which Mozart's musical characterisation is legendary. Written by Michael Steen, author of the acclaimed The Lives and Times of the Great Composers, 'Short Guides to Great Operas' are concise, entertaining and easy to read books about opera. Each is an opera guide packed with useful information and informed opinion, helping to make you a truly knowledgeable opera-goer, and so maximising your enjoyment of a great musical experience. Other 'Short Guides to Great Operas' that you may enjoy include Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville.