Who's Afraid of Opera? [Paperback]

Michael Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Opera is very much in the public eye--and ear. Here is a lively and readable guide to this inspiring branch of classical music--for anyone who has already discovered the joy of opera and anyone who would like to.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671884026
• ISBN-13: 978-0671884024
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #628,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With five critically acclaimed novels, as well as a hit TV movie, journalist, author and screenwriter Michael Walsh has achieved the writer's trifecta: two New York Times best-sellers, a major literary award and, as co-writer, the Disney Channel's then-highest-rated show.

The 1998 publication of As Time Goes By -- his long-awaited and controversial prequel/sequel to everybody's favorite movie, Casablanca -- created a literary sensation; translated into more than twenty languages, including Portuguese, Chinese and Hebrew, the story of Rick and Ilsa landed on best-seller lists around the world.

His first novel, the dark thriller Exchange Alley, was published by Warner Books in July 1997. Hailed by critics for its moody depiction of a crumbling Soviet Union - which Walsh covered first-hand as a correspondent for Time Magazine - and a violent, dangerous New York City during the darkest days of the early 1990s, the novel was picked by the Book-of-the-Month Club as an alternate selection.

Walsh's third novel, the gripping gangster saga, And All the Saints, was named a winner at the 2004 American Book Awards; even before publication, the movie rights to this fictionalized "autobiography" of the legendary Prohibition-era gangster Owney Madden was bought by MGM.

His 2009 novel, Hostile Intent, the first in a series of five thrillers about the National Security Agency to be published by Kensington Books, was an Amazon Kindle #1 bestseller, as well as a New York Times bestseller. The eagerly awaited sequel, Early Warning, will be published in Sept.

In the spring of 2002, the Disney Channel premiered Walsh's original movie (co-written with Gail Parent), Cadet Kelly, starring teen idol Hilary Duff of "Lizzie McGuire" fame. Until High School Music, the two-hour film reigned as the highest-rated original movie in Disney Channel history, as well as the Disney Channel's highest-rated single program ever.

Walsh is also the author of Who's Afraid of Classical Music (1989) and Who's Afraid of Opera (1994) for Fireside Books, and Andrew Lloyd Webber: His Life and Works, a critical biography of the composer for Harry M. Abrams (U.S.) and Viking Penguin (U.K.), published in the fall of 1989; an updated and expanded edition appeared in 1997. With fellow TIME Contributor Richard Schickel, he is the co-author of Carnegie Hall: The First One Hundred Years, a cultural history of the great American concert hall published by Abrams in November 1987. His most recent book about music is So When Does the Fat Lady Sing?, published by Amadeus Press.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly entertaining and non-threatening intro to opera., October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Who's Afraid of Opera? (Paperback)

I enjoyed "Who's Afraid of Opera?" very much, and have recommended it to several people.

I'm an opera "newbie" who is interested in opera but didn't know where to start. I had not been tempted to read other books about opera that for the most part seemed dry and impenetrable. Michael Walsh's book, on the other hand, was more like having an extended and animated conversation about opera over dinner or while walking along with a friend. In fact, until I had finished the book, I treated it as such, taking it with me everywhere, like a companion, and was eager to read it when I had a spare moment.

Michael Walsh is indeed opinionated, but that is part of why I was so stimulated by this book. It made me want to go out and see/listen to the same operas he discusses--to determine if I agreed with his opinions! Whether I agreed with him or not, I was consistently entertained by this book and would recommend it to anyone as a good "starter" book to the world of opera! In "Who's Afraid of Opera" Michael Walsh will both irritate and delight you, as anyone worth talking to should.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outspoken guide to opera as living art about real people, March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Who's Afraid of Opera? (Paperback)

This book, along with Fred Plotkin's "Opera 101", was one of the very first that I read when I was just beginning to learn about and enjoy opera. A Time Magazine music critic, Mr. Walsh has written a book that is indeed highly "opinionated", but the author is very enthusiastic about opera as a meaningful and valuable past and present, living, art form. Interesting and enjoyable personal anecdotes and information on a number of recent works by such composers os Adams and Glass, as well as an emphasis on operas that explore everyday human values and ideas make the book rather unique among opera guides for beginners that I've seen. Highly recommended, especially for readers who are interested in music but not yet sure whether or not opera is for them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be afraid, July 17, 2001

By 

Robert (Syracuse, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Afraid of Opera? (Paperback)

I enjoyed Michael Walsh's "Who's afraid of classical music?" and when I discovered that he had written a companion text for opera, I set out to read it. "Who's afraid of opera?" is excellent, as it concentrates on that scarier form of musical drama: opera! Walsh sets out to debunk many of the misunderstandings about opera, and shows how delightful opera can be, as it combines drama and music. He also shows that many of the themes in opera are basically the themes we still see today, in pop culture and so forth (love, really in love, kill for love). All in all, a great book for the beginner hoping to set off on their operatic journey!