Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera: Behind the Scenes with Composers, Cast, and Crew [Hardcover]

Anne Siberell (Author), Frederica von Stade (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2002

A delightful introduction to opera, Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera teaches elementary school children what opera is by showing how it is made. "Who writes the words?", "Who makes an opera happen? "Who is backstage?"--these questions and more are answered with easy-to-understand explanations and are illustrated with whimsical watercolors by the author. From composer, choreographer, and costume designers to the conductor, lighting and special effects crew, and, of course, the singers, the excitement builds as Anne Siberell explains each person's role in producing an opera. Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera reveals details of the most famous operas' plots and characters along the way and includes synopses of 27 popular operas, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an index.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Filled with detailed explanations and entertaining trivia, this clearly written, lively book introduces readers to the world of opera from curtain opening to curtain call. Siberell offers a broad framework for understanding the genre by posing a series of questions such as: "How did opera begin?" "Who writes the words, and who writes the music?" and "Who holds an opera performance together?" Readers can also find out about costuming, makeup, set design, and the production of realistic-looking "weather." Sidebars contain additional nuggets, and there are concise summaries of 27 opera plots. Siberell keeps the tone light with whimsical pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings and diagrams in delicate hues. An excellent resource for reports, this unusual book has an exceptional range of topics for younger students and is an essential purchase for upper elementary and middle school music programs.

Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Siberell offers young people an accessible introduction to an often-intimidating art form: opera. Visually inviting, the book has varied, spacious page layouts and colorful illustrations that feature a light, childlike look. Reflecting the same welcoming tone, the informal, yet informative text answers a series of basic questions, such as "How did opera begin?" and "Who is backstage, behind the curtain?" Added features include a double-page spread that offers an excellent visual explanation of vocal ranges, from bass to soprano, set against a piano keyboard and accompanied by pictures of characters whose roles demand those ranges. Siberell admits that "Some people say opera is boring," perhaps because most librettos were not written in English. She suggests that audiences become familiar with an opera before attending and that, during performances, they follow the simultaneous translations now displayed in many theaters. The book ends with a glossary, bibliographies, and the plots of 27 operas. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195139666
• ISBN-13: 978-0195139662
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #400,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!, February 5, 2011

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This review is from: Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera: Behind the Scenes with Composers, Cast, and Crew (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful introduction to the opera for children! It covers everything from the plots of the best-known operas to the jobs of the stage manager and general director. The history of the opera is also included. My two-year-old loves the opera (I know, weird, right), and this is her favorite book! I've learned quite a lot, too. I highly recommend this book to anyone (young our old) who is beginning to learn and love opera!