Operetta developed in the second half of the 19th century from the French opera comique and the more light-hearted German Singspiel. As the century progressed, the serious concerns of mainstream opera were sustained and intensified, leaving a gap between opera comique and vaudeville that necessitated a new type of stage work. Jacques Offenbach, son of a Cologne synagogue cantor, established himself in Paris with his series of operas bouffes. The popular success of this individual new form of entertainment?light, humorous, satirical and also sentimental?led to the emergence of operetta as a...
Operetta developed in the second half of the 19th century from the French opera comique and the more light-hearted German Singspiel. As the century pr...
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) was a great musical dramatist in his own right. The fame of his operas rests on his radical treatment of form, his development of scenic complexes and greater plasticity of structure and melody, his dynamic use of the orchestra, and close attention to all aspects of presentation and production, all of which set new standards in Romantic opera and dramaturgy. This book carries forward the process of rediscovery and reassessment of Meyerbeer s art including not just his famous French operas, but also his German and Italian ones placing them in the context of his...
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) was a great musical dramatist in his own right. The fame of his operas rests on his radical treatment of form, his devel...
