Angels & monsters : male and female sopranos in the story of opera, 1600-1900 / Richard Somerset-Ward.

Author/creator Somerset-Ward, Richard
Format Book
Publication InfoNew Haven : Yale University Press, ©2004.
Descriptionxiv, 325 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Subjects
Opera.
Sopranos (Singers)

Variant title Angels and monsters
Contents Caccini's pupils -- Getting away with murder: the prima donna comes of age -- Porpora's pupils -- The castrato ascendancy -- Après Gluck and the time of Mozart -- Prime donne assolute -- The world's showcase: Paris 1800-1871 -- Dramatic singing: the Verdian soprano -- Heroic singing: the Wagnerian soprano -- Marchesi's pupils.
Abstract During its first two centuries, opera was dominated by sopranos. There were male sopranos, or castrati, whose supercharged voices (female vocal cords powered by male lungs) were capable of feats of vocalism that are hard to imagine today. And there were female sopranos, or prime donne, whose long battle for social acceptance and top billing was crowned in the early nineteenth century when the castrati disappeared from the opera stage and left them supreme. Whether they were male or female, these singers wre amazing vertuosi, perhaps the greatest singers there have ever been--"angels." Unfortunately, some of them (and often the most famous) were also capable of behaving extremely badly, both on and off stage--"monsters." This book tells their colorful stories.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 307-310) and index.
LCCN 2003020227
ISBN0300099681 (alk. paper)
ISBN9780300099683 (alk. paper)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML1700 .S69 2004 ✔ Available Place Hold