Nigel Douglas, one of the most versatile figures in international opera, has produced the perfect book for all lovers of this extravagant, enthralling art form. Ranging across several continents and as many centuries, this lavish volume begins with the prima donna and her male counterpart, examining the lives of some of opera’s most colorful performers. Douglas also provides lively commentary on the filming and recording of opera, controversial directors, venues both fabulous and not, the pleasures and pitfalls of the singing life, and those quintessentially operatic topics: drink and seduction. Boldly mixing musical history, biography, gossip, and anecdote, Nigel Douglas has brilliantly captured the pleasures of opera.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"'This is a marvellous, joyous book, full of good stories... which will appeal to anybody remotely interested in opera, and help explain to those who are not why it is such a fascinating art form.' - Opera Now; 'Fascinatingly readable. It is full of illuminating stories...and gives a wonderful picture of the splendours and miseries of the singer's life.'- Spectator; 'An engaging volume, which no lovers of opera can fail to enjoy.' - Sunday Telegraph; 'A perfect present for any opera-lover. Beautifully illustrated and packed with anecdotes.' - Independent on Sunday"
About the Author
Nigel Douglas has appeared internationally in 80 principle tenor roles, directed numerous productions, and presented hundreds of programs for BBC Radio. He is a noted interpreter of 20th-century opera and the author of Legendary Voices and More Legendary Voices.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nigel Douglas,Opera Singer.,
By Mr David M. Cox (Corrimal, N.S.W., AU) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Joy of Opera (Hardcover)
The first time that I saw Nigel Douglas perform was on "The New London Palladium Show" hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck,The British comedian that just about managed to get every one liner he ever told wrong.Nigel Douglas produced "The Joy of Opera" in such a way as to present opera and opera performers,in a new entertaining way, to shed light on what many had regarded as a secret society of tallented collectables found only creeping in or out of stage doors. The book is "the missing link" to the lives of the most famous opera singers from the early performances on dimly lit stages,right up to the lavish palaces created by mere mortals for their gods to sing. From production to seduction, this book has it all with fascinating tales of reputations brought out of the limelight and into the daylight for all to see. Definately a good read. Dave Cox
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The plot of almost every opera ever written has as its mainspring, in some form or other, the power of love. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Covent Garden, New York, Don Giovanni, Royal Opera, Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss, The Merry Widow, Beniamino Gigli, Maria Callas, United States, Welsh National Opera, Die Fledermaus, English National Opera, Madam Butterfly, Richard Tauber, Vienna State Opera, Der Ring, Lauritz Melchior, San Francisco, Sir Thomas Beecham, Der Rosenkavalier, Richard Wagner, Rudolf Bing, Sadler's Wells, Billy Budd New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The plot of almost every opera ever written has as its mainspring, in some form or other, the power of love. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Covent Garden, New York, Don Giovanni, Royal Opera, Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss, The Merry Widow, Beniamino Gigli, Maria Callas, United States, Welsh National Opera, Die Fledermaus, English National Opera, Madam Butterfly, Richard Tauber, Vienna State Opera, Der Ring, Lauritz Melchior, San Francisco, Sir Thomas Beecham, Der Rosenkavalier, Richard Wagner, Rudolf Bing, Sadler's Wells, Billy Budd New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 55
books:
See all 55 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- Don Giovanni in Full Score by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on 9 pages
- Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini on 5 pages
- The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro): Vocal Score by Ruth Martin on 4 pages
- Die Fledermaus by Strauss on page 29, page 157, and page 199
- Der Rosenkavalier: English National Opera Guide 8 (English National Opera Guides) by R. Strauss on page 132, page 189, and page 207
See all 55 books this book cites
- Opera on Film by Richard Fawkes in Back Matter
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