Customer Reviews

Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is in effect a great "do it yourself" course on opera.

The first chapter is a history of opera. The second discusses the mechanics of opera - the various types of singers and concepts involved in opera. Next is a chapter on the mechanics of attending an opera, buying tickets, what to beware, etc.

The real heart of the book, though, is the eleven chapters covering eleven different operas. As you progress through them, you learn about new concepts such as the use of music to evoke emotion, french opera, grand opera, etc. By carefully choosing the sequence, Plotkin is careful to reveal opera's mystery in a way that will bring listeners in rather than turning them off. Plotkin also suggests a particular recording for each opera as a way of introducing different singers and conductors as well. In contrast to others, Plotkin uses the entire opera - not merely highlights.

As a companion, I'd suggest Denis Foreman's A Night at the Opera, which is a highly informative, although highly opinionated, reference guide to all the major operas.

*Opera 101* should be the perfect book for you if you know you want to learn more about opera but are having trouble "getting" it. The book is written by an opera expert in a light but intelligent style, and it assumes that the reader comes to it with nothing more than a genuine desire to learn and some money to spend on recordings. After a short intro chapter, Fred Plotkin begins with a 90-page history of opera that even seasoned opera-goers (of which I am one, I suppose) should find instructive. Plotkin then provides an excellent chapter on opera singers and the nuts-and-bolts of attending an opera. Almost all of the rest of the book is taken up with in-depth "lessons" on eleven key operas, each chosen to expand the reader's understanding in a certain direction. Although each of these lessons is designed for you to use while studying a particular recording of each opera, they are highly instructive if you have a recording other than the one Plotkin recommends, or even if you have no recording available at all. I would recommend this book to any serious beginner.

Having read about a dozen books that tout themselves as introductions to opera, I found "Opera 101" to be perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch. In an ever-so-slight way, it is at times a bit preachy and a bit overobvious. You will feel occasionally like you are in a high-school music appreciation class, or reading an operating manual. On the other hand, Plotkin leaves absolutely nothing out, and no stone unturned, and for that he is to be commended. Every possible question is answered, and answered thoroughly. In addition, the appendices are chock full o' valuable information (a list of all the major and mid-major opera houses all over the world; books for further reading; recommended CD recordings and DVD filmings; etc.). And you have the feeling at all times that Ploktin knows what he's talking about.

This is the PERFECT book for any adult who knows absolutely zilch about opera but who wants to learn it all, and learn it all out of a single source.

If you want to develop an interest or feed your growing interest in Opera, this is a terrific book. Plotkin believes that the more you know before you go to the theatre, the more you will get out of your experiences of live opera. I had never attended an opera without supertitles before reading this book, but feel comfortable doing so now.

Good information on popular operas and obscure operas, retired singers and current singers, what to look for and what to listen for. Doesn't talk down to the reader. Published in 1994 so some resources (phone numbers of opera companies) out of date.

I've found this book extremely helpful, and a opera-lover friend of mine looked it over and agreed that it looked like a worthy introduction to the subject (though he would have chosen La Boheme as the first opera rather than Rigoletto).

The reviewer whose complaint centers on the need to have the recording playing and libretto in front of you while reading is, I believe, misinterpreting the function of the book. It does not present itself as a book with summaries of many great operas and shouldn't be criticized for not being one. The chapters on the 11 operas it introduces you to are in depth, track by track, introductions so he can point out things to listen for, etc. His descriptions of certain passages as sensuous, etc. are indications of how he interprets the music. He often repeats that the listener needs to find/feel their own emotional reactions to the music, whether or not they agree with him.

I'm only on my second opera now (I'm spending a great deal of time with each on before moving on), but have found this book a very interesting and helpful introduction.

It is most heartening to see that opera lovers and novices almost universally agree that this book is excellent, informative, and illuminating. I was maybe 14 when I asked a salesperson in a bookstore "do you have a book that will teach me about opera?" Without hesitation, I was directed to "Opera 101".

I was skeptical. However, I am no longer!

Mr. Plotkin is experienced, informed, and well-read. So as not to belabour the structure of the book (since there are many descriptions of it) I'll say that the idea of walking someone through 11 operas is excellent. That Mr. Plotkin picks a particular recording (with commentary per track) is an indespensible fusion with the book.

That is to say Mr. Plotkin has carefully chosen themes, operas, and what he believes to be superior recordings of the above mentioned as illustrations of what opera can be to the average listener. His decisions on recordings are in no way arbitrary, and he takes special care to choose recordings more easily found than those that might be "better" but are less easily found outside of major metropolitan areas.

Let's remember, the original version of this book was written before the internet made just about any recording available in any area. He admits that sometimes he's arbitrary (especially with his recommendation for Il Barbiere di Siviglia...YUCK) but he always explains his good reasons for choosing inferior performances on disc. His are not "Gospel" recommendations, but those he thinks best illustrate the power of opera in recorded form, customs, and the sheer beauty of the human voice.

Beyond that, Mr. Plotkin performs a yeoman's task of qualifying the different kinds of voices in opera, provides an 90+ page history of opera, and gives the average American a primer in the esoteric "etiquette" of attending an opera performance.

Invaluable for its tutorial format, universal as a detailed introduction; "Opera 101" is a MUST for an opera lover's collection.

This is an absolutely wonderful introductory book about opera. I read it with highlighter pen in hand and use it as a sourcebook for education outreach programs for our (wonderful) opera company. It is very easy to read and understand and appropriate for all ages, pre-teen to 100! This is the only book I purchase frequently and give to friends just getting interested in opera. A must buy!

Plotkin's guide is an excellent short course for anyone new to the art form, but it is also helpful to the experienced listener who has not seen all the information assembled into one volume. It's hard to overrate how useful his references to specific recordings are. I give it four stars, instead of five, only because that is how useful it was to me: I have spent many years listening to opera.

I bought this book three years ago and still use it today. Mr. Plotkin certainly knows his subject and knows how to pass the information to the reader with humor as well as scholarship. I can recommend this book for those who know opera; as well as those just starting to delve into it.

An excellent book for those new to Opera. It is a true guide to learn and love Opera. The book contains a brief history of Opera, plus a chapter to understand its basic elements. Even there is a chapter that guides you through the experience of going to the theater for the first time. Then the rest of the book is a guide to learn opera through listening to a selection of great works: Rigoletto, Tosca, Lucia..

An absolute recommendation for those who are starting at knowing Opera. It is THE book. Very easy to read and written with a warm familiar voice, this book will become a best friend in your journey to loving Opera.

I was already an opera lover when I first read it, and even if it is written specially for newcomers, I did enjoy it very much as I re-discovered some of the reasons why I love opera.