The Barber of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library) [Hardcover]

Gioacchino Rossini (Author)

Book Description

Series: Black Dog Opera Library | Publication Date: October 30, 2006

The Black Dog Opera Library is the most popular, informative, and budget-friendly way to enjoy all the great operas. Each book contains a history of the opera, a synopsis of the story, a complete libretto in its original language as well as in English, dozens of photos, and a world-class Angel/EMI recording of the entire opera on two CDs. All of this for under twenty dollars!

Editorial Reviews

Review

When it comes to operas in which, for once, nobody dies, Gioacchino Rossini's great comedy Il Barbiere di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville) is perhaps the most popular of all time. It's got it all: funny plot, great tunes (including nine of the most immediately recognizable notes in Western music: "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!"), irresistible characters, and an overture that provided Bugs Bunny with one of his greatest moments on screen. Have you ever wondered about the scoring of Lindoro's sweet first act aria, or the requirements for the boom in Basilio's celebration of calumny? Check it all out with this complete orchestral score from Dover Publications. As is standard with Dover, this score is a reprint of a German original, and because it offers the complete orchestration it will be more useful to the music student than to the working singer. (Amazon.com Review )

About the Author

Gioachino Antonio Rossini (February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868) was a popular Italian composer who created 39 operas as well as sacred music and chamber music. His best known works include Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), La Cenerentola and Guillaume Tell (William Tell). A tendency for inspired, songlike melodies is evident throughout his scores, which led to the nickname "The Italian Mozart." Until his retirement in 1829, Rossini had been the most popular opera composer in history. The Barber of Seville was the first Italian opera ever presented in the United States.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579126189
• ISBN-13: 978-1579126186
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Rossini
  • #64 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Early Romantic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Barber of Seville - Black Dog Opera Library Collection, May 12, 2000

By 

Adam Christensen - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Barber of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)

As with the other Black Dog Opera Library Collections, the Barber of Seville combines CDs of the full opera with a 140+ page hardbound book of pictures, history, libretto and critique. It is perfect both for those new to opera and for the opera savvy.

Author David Foil offers a historical critique of the Barber of Seville and relates the impact it had on the music world. Foil also tells the story of Rossini's experiences writing the opera, which took less than one month.

The musical recordings alone are reason to buy the book. Perhaps the greatest opera conductor of our time, James Levine, conducts Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes and the London Symphony Orchestra in a wonderful rendition of this famous opera.

I highly recommend this book and CD to anyone. Nowhere else can you find such a complete package of music, words and pictures for such a reasonable price. So, if you wish to listen to the famous strains of "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro" this is your book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Idea!!, March 30, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Barber of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)

This book and CD set are the perfect combination for those who are new to the world of opera and not fluent in foreign language. Better than just a synopsis, the libretto in English lets you read every word so you won't miss the humor or pathos. As a homeschooling mom, I really appreciated this set as a teaching tool. I hope to increase my collection of The Black Dog Opera Library series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazon "Looks Inside" the wrong book, August 9, 2005

By 

A. L. Klesert (Gallup, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Barber of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)

Be aware that the book shown when you take a "Look Inside" is NOT the book you get. What they show is a bound copy of the musical score with the libretto added. What you get is the libretto described in the written review, no musical score. That having been said, the book you get is useful and of interest, and the CD is a great recording.