Opera and its symbols : the unity of words, music, and staging / Robert Donington.
| Author/creator | Donington, Robert |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New Haven : Yale University Press, ©1990. |
| Description | viii, 248 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Part one: Principles. A totality of symbols -- Words, music, staging -- Compatibility on stage -- Part two: Practice. The start of opera -- Monteverdi -- The Age of Reason -- The Enlightenment -- A Masonic vision -- The Romantic movement -- Verdi -- Early Wagner -- Wagner's Ring -- Further Wagner -- The last of Wagner -- Realism -- Strauss -- The twentieth century -- Appendix: Musical examples from Wagner's Ring. |
| Abstract | This book discusses the workings of symbolism in opera and the importance of staging opera in keeping with the composer's intentions. Only in this way, the author says, can we be faithful to the conscious or unconscious symbolism invested in the work by the composer and librettist. Starting form Carlyle's premise that "it is through symbols that man, consciously or unconsciously, lives, works and has his being," the author interprets scenes and characters from operas by Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet, Puccini, Debussy, Strauss, Stravinsky, Berg, Britten, Tippett, and other composers. This book sheds new light on operatic situations that are problematic or have become over-familiar. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-238) and index. |
| LCCN | 89039530 |
| ISBN | 0300047134 (alk. paper) |
| ISBN | 9780300047134 (alk. paper) |