Opera's First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi (AMADEUS) [Paperback]

Mark Ringer (Author), Claudio Monteverdi (Composer)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006 | Series: AMADEUS (Book 8)

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was the first great opera composer and is often hailed as the creator of modern music. His genius was often likened to that of Mozart, Wagner, and Verdi, but in many of the world's opera houses his operas often receive an almost chilly respect, far removed from the nearly universal love aroused by those later masters. This book, the first layperson's guide to Monteverdi, seeks to stimulate appreciation for his operas by examining them not as musicological relics but as the vital theatrical experiences they are. Ringer places Monteverdi's operatic works within the musical and theatrical framework of his era, offering a brief sketch of the composer's early years and detailing the complex forces that led to the emergence of opera in late sixteenth-century Florence. Opera's First Master enables opera lovers to see and hear Monteverdi's masterpieces anew, while opening new channels of inquiry into how Monteverdean opera "works" in the theater.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an uncommonly well-told accounting of Monteverdi’s operatic legacy... [an] exceptionally valuable book" -- LA Weekly, May 4, 2006

"Ringer's accounts of the [Monteverdian] works are fascinating. . . . [The book] will make you think about the music." -- Early Music Review, June 2006

"Ringer's extensive quotations from Monteverdi's letters and contemporary reports enrich this book enormously." -- The WholeNote Magazine, April 2006

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Amadeus Press; 1 edition (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574671103
• ISBN-13: 978-1574671100
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,486,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Opera's First Master: Unlocking the Masters, No. 8, November 13, 2006

By 

Martin Hanson "Navy59" (Darien, Il USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opera's First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi (AMADEUS) (Paperback)

This is a good book with engaging and thorough review of each of his operas. The reviews are so detailed that it would be outstanding study for any team planning to perform these operas. A moderate list of references is provided with references noted in the text. There is a good index. There is a recording with excerpts from recent performances. The thing I like best about this book is that all the CD, DVD and book references include very recently released works so this book is very up-to-date.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars knowledgeable, encompassing introducton to this composer's works, May 2, 2006

By 

Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opera's First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi (AMADEUS) (Paperback)

The author who is an Associate Professor of Theater at Marymount College supports his belief that "Claudio Moneteverdi (1567-1643) was the first great opera composer" by commentaries on his operas scene by scene. Ringer follows the narrative line (such as it is in opera) and profiles the characters while explaining the role and effects of the music and words on these. Introductory parts give a biography of Monteverdi focusing on his distinctive creative genius and viewing him in the context of the development of opera in Florence in late Renaissance Italy. The CD contains 13 selections from Monteverdi operas; which are annotated in back matter. Ringer's accessible treatment of this outstanding and influential composer is an ideal introduction and companion to Monteverdi's operas.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers his Life and his Three Great Works, April 24, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opera's First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi (AMADEUS) (Paperback)

In part this book is a short biography of Monteverdi. And in part it discusses his place as the originator of opera as we know it today. But mostly it's about the three surviving operas that he wrote: L'Orfeo (Orpheus, 1607), Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland, 1640), and L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea, 1643). The stated purpose of the book is not to treat these works as merely a part of operatic history, but explaining the vital theatrical experiences that they are.

Each of the three operas gets a complete description including the history, the nature of the roles, and of course a summay of the story.

The book includes a CD that has significant excerpts from the three operas.

This book is part of a series called Unlocking the Masters that covers the work of our most important composers. The whole series is excellent, bringing us a concise yet complete story that is both informative and easy to read.