Rigoletto (Black Dog Opera Library) (English and Italian Edition) [Hardcover]

Francesco Maria Piave (Author), Daniel S. Brink (Author), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1998 | Series: Black Dog Opera Library

BThe lack Dog Opera Library presents Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto featuring Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes and Alfredo Kraus. A marriage of music and the written word in the most complete and popularly priced package yet produced, each of these sets includes a complete opera on two Angel/EMI compact discs, accompanied by the complete libretto in its original language and English translation with annotated commentary. Full-color photographs illustrate the history of the operas, and an entertaining text discusses the musical heritage of the composers, the music and the performances.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French, German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Giuseppe Verdi was born on October 10, 1813, in the small village of Le Roncole in northern Italy. His father, Carlo Verdi, a poor peasant, ran the local combination shop (an inn and tavern) and farmed a small plot of land. Verdi had only one sibling, a younger sister who was retarded and who died in her teenage years. As a child, he showed an early interest in music. It is said that he used to follow an itinerant fiddle player all around the village, and that he would be transfixed by the organ music at church on Sundays, sometimes forgetting his duties as colyte.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 124 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (January 11, 1998)
• Language: English, Italian
• ISBN-10: 1579120474
• ISBN-13: 978-1579120474
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Verdi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific guide to the opera for beginners, January 2, 2000

By 

Mary (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rigoletto (Black Dog Opera Library) (English and Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

I've always enjoyed opera music but I had trouble understanding the words and the plot. This guide gives some background on the Opera's Composer (Verdi), some historical background as well as a brief but interesting summation of the plot. The two CD's that accompany the book provide the complete audio of the opera. (Beverly Sills in the Gilda role and Sherrill Milnes in the role of Rigoletto) The Libretto provides the text of the opera both in Italian and English. I enjoyed this guide so much that I am hoping to collect the whole series.

16 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best introduction to Rigoletto, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rigoletto (Black Dog Opera Library) (English and Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

Rigoletto is a wondeful opera that can be used as an introduction for beginners who want to explore the art of operas. Although I like the concept of Black Dog Opera Library that provides an attractive book and recording of a famous opera in a bargain price, I cannot recommend this book of Rigoletto. The major drawback lies in the recording that accompaies this book. I would say it is probably the most disappointing Rigoletto ever recorded by big names in the opera world.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 3 reviews I found here do not refer to this product!, October 22, 2007

By 

Michael Hosford - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rigoletto: Full Score (Paperback)

I don't understand why the 3 reviews I found here are being displayed with this item. They are reviews for something else! Naturally, in answer to the question "Was this review helpful to you?" I will click "No" for all of them! And when I receive my copy of the Ricordi score for Rigoletto, I will definitely consider posting a real review of it.