Rossini’s popularity in Italy in the early 1820s was certainly not echoed in France, where he was regarded as “an ill-bred parvenu, whose cheap popularity was an insult to a great musical tradition.” Stendhal, always an obstinate individualist, was the first of his contemporaries to recognize the genius of this important Italian composer. Details of Rossini’s early life are followed by penetrating discussions of the operas, libretti, personalities of the period, and Rossini’s own character. Besides being a fascinating account of the Italian composer’s most creative years, and of contemporary musical events and opinions—this work is one of the finest items in the Stendhalian literary canon. Richard Coe’s elegant revised translation and careful annotations do full justice to the incandescent strength of Stendhal’s prose style.
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Editorial Reviews
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"The best appreciation of Rossini ever written." —Ernest Newman, author, The Wagner Operas
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Text: English, French (translation)
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
stendhal and opera,
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This review is from: Life of Rossini (Oneworld Classics) (Paperback)
An early work of Stendhal, who was an avid opera goer throughout his life. Opera music created a similar feeling to love in his soul. He preferred Italian opera and goes through a history of music in different European countries, including making sweeping generalizations about Italian and German music. He obviously favored Rossini and anything to do with Italian life and customs. His great sensibility made him a keen music critic and he makes surprisingly accurate comments. He reviews every single opera extensively. A great combination of a literary work and music history, and a good read for students of music and literature alike. A truly unique work as I do not know of many great novelists who dabbled in music as well. As with many other more modern writers, Stendhal is more interested in describing how the music made him feel, rather than a strict exegesis of the music itself.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Reference,
By Toady (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life of Rossini (Opera Library) (Paperback)
I purchased this book solely as a reference for a report I was doing in college. It confirmed facts found in other books.
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