Grabbing Operas by Their Tales: Liberating the Libretti [Paperback]

Charles E. Lake (Author), Mike Rooth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2004

Opera treated in an irreverent tenor.

Grabbing Operas by Their Tales flippantly retells the plots of fifteen of the best known and well-loved operas. Using irreverent humor, word play, footnotes, and absurdities, each opera plot is described in an entertaining and educational way.

The fifteen operas are:

• Carmen by Bizet
• Faust by Gounod
• Romeo and Juliet by Gounod
• Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck
• Don Giovanni by Mozart
• Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach
• Tosca by Puccini
• Turandot by Puccini
• Cinderella by Rossini
• Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saens
• Il Trovatore by Verdi
• Aida by Verdi
• Otello by Verdi
• Lohengrin by Wagner
• Die Walkure by Wagner.

Grabbing Operas by Their Tales is great reading for music lovers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Irreverent... short, witty retellings follow the original outlines while gleefully pointing out the absurdities and zesty comedic sideshows. (Lina Piwowarczyk Chicago Sun Newspapers )

Twisted and entertaining stories... irreverent humor, wordplay, and absurdities to create tales that are entertaining and informative. (Teaching Music )

About the Author

Charles E. Lake is unencumbered by musical talent or training and thus he provides a man-on-the-street view of these sacred, but improbable opera plots.

Mike Rooth is a freelance illustrator. His work has appeared in a wide variety of publications.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Sound And Vision (September 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0920151388
• ISBN-13: 978-0920151389
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,059,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OPERA AT IT'S FUNNIEST AND FINEST, October 20, 2004

By 

A MUSICIAN - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grabbing Operas by Their Tales: Liberating the Libretti (Paperback)

THIS BOOK IS DELIGHTFUL IN BRINGING OPERA DOWN TO EARTH AND HAVING FUN DOING IT. THE OPERAS ARE INTERESTING WITH A TOUNGUE-IN-CHEEK VIEW WITHOUT EVER BE BORING. THE AUTHOR TREATS OPERA, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY IT, HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND ALL IN A FUN, EASY TO UNDERSTAND MANNER. MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AUTHOR, MR. LAKE FOR TAKING OPERA AND HELPING US ALL ENJOY IT.