The Young Person's Guide to the Opera: With Music from the Great Operas (Book & CD) [Hardcover]

Anita Ganeri (Author), Nicola Barber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Opera’s colorful history is rich with exciting stories. Through conversational text, informative sidebars, and full-color photographs, young readers will learn about the talented people--composers, singers, musicians, stagehands, set and costume designers, makeup crews--and the technical wizardry that go into staging opera’s lavish performances. There are even behind-the-scenes glimpses of many of today’s great opera companies, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the San Diego Opera.
Created in association with London’s Royal Opera House and the San Diego Opera, this hardcover book-and-CD package is a sumptuous introduction to the world of opera. The accompanying CD captures memorable moments from some of the most famous operas.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-This book features bright color photos and a dynamic layout that is ideal for readers who are after a more informal, friendly approach to the subject. Ganeri and Barber cover many aspects of opera, from the origins of the form to the stories behind the great works to the most famous opera singers and the venues in which they perform. Many pages contain a "Did You Know?" box that reveals an interesting but little-known fact bound to spark readers' curiosity. There are a few quibbles with the text, such as the omission of Beverly Sills, surely one of the premiere divas in the field, and a typographical error in the spelling of musical-comedy composer Richard Rodgers's name. The accompanying CD is an excellent complement to the book. It contains an enticing mix of vocal and instrumental tracks, at least half of which will be recognized by listeners. Unfortunately, although the titles of the songs and operas are listed, there are no performer credits, so although students will be aware of what they are hearing, they will not know who is singing. Still, the book and CD are an attractive and effective package that will make this often-intimidating art form more accessible.

Ronni Krasnow, New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

ANITA GANERI is a writer and editor of children’s books, including the companion volumes in the Young Person’s Guide ... series. She lives in England.

NICOLA BARBER has written and edited many nonfiction children’s books, including several about music and the arts. She lives in Bristol, England.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152164987
• ISBN-13: 978-0152164980
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this one!, February 28, 2008

By 

Joseph, your brother (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Young Person's Guide to the Opera: With Music from the Great Operas (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

Want to learn a little about a lot of opera? If not you, perhaps your kids? This is a excellent way to better know the world's most famous operas, with a CD highlighting the great music.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Start their Emotional Intelligence Young, October 22, 2005

By 

Susan Dunn "The EQ Coach" (Dallas,, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Young Person's Guide to the Opera: With Music from the Great Operas (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

As an Emotional Intelligence instructor (EQ) and coach, I habitually find adults whose emotional life was nourished in an intelligent way when they were kids. My <a href=http://www.susandunn.cc/courses.htm>adult learning course</A>, and the one I use to train other coaches, includes the arts, particularly music, as we know that it effects the emotions, and supports the immune system. I purchased this book in the hopes of including it on my online store of EQ products and have been very pleased with it. I also recommend it in my <a href=http://www.susandunn.cc/vivoperlei.htm>Club Vivo Per Lei/I Live for Music</A>. For adults who are emotionally mature enough not to "mind" learning in a delightful and easy way, why not start with a book and recording like this and then move on to The Teaching Company. Opera is an acquired taste because we aren't brought up on it, just as classical music seems to have slipped away in recent decades, but is coming back in a big way. Why? Because we need it. For all the reason we intuitively know. It soothes the savage beast. I took my 8 year old friend to her first opera the other day - The Barber of Seville is a great starter. She laughed ... I laughed ... and that opera is very old. This is a great book for Christmas giving and I recommend it highly. Then take your little one to Barber of Seville and spend the money to get seats right up front. (Very important, the immediacy of it.) Put your "arts" budget for the kids right after food, clothing, shelter and education (agitate for music appreciation in your schools, and I don't mean rap), and you'll have an emotionally intelligent child, which won't over-ride IQ, but without it, IQ isn't much good! Ask Turandot, wink wink. She had to "learn" his name was Love, and he taught her with a kidd, not his intellect.