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Title: Opera for Dummies by David Pogue, Scott Speck ISBN: 0-7645-5010-1 Publisher: For Dummies Pub. Date: 21 August, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.71 (17 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Not What You'd Think...
Comment: This is a great book. But there's nothing "dumb" or "for dummies" about it. Any person who is bright and has a sense of humor and who is just beginning to be interested in opera will find this funny, clever, irreverent book to be fascinating. Plus, the included CD is of high quality and has a great selection of tracks.
In sum, this book (while being not as hefty or as chock full of information as competing introduction-to-opera guides) is an intelligant, useful, user-friendly welcome to the universe of opera. The genuine passion of the authors shines through, a trait not found in many of the more traditional guides. All in all, "Opera for Dummies" is not at all for dummies, and is a "must-have" item for the opera beginner.
Rating: 4
Summary: Would have earned 5 stars except for the crass commercialism
Comment: Pogue and Speck provide a wonderful, humorous, and accessible text in "Opera for Dummies."
I just wish they or IDG (publishers) would stop pumping the "free CD" on every page. Readers don't need reminding, after the dozenth time, that a CD is included with the book ... besides at [$$] (retail) for book and CD, it's NOT free, we paid for it. Also the multiple reminders of their "Classical Music for Dummies" is nearly as annoying.
That said, I found the book highly entertaining and educational.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Great Intro To Opera For Those With Open Ears
Comment: Open your heart and open your ears. In today's society, when it comes to youth and music, opera is seldom mentioned. Nevertheless, there is still a great number of young opera lovers, thanks to the efforts of great opera singers who are younger- such as Renee Fleming and Samuel Ramey (a baritone who has the MTV touch). Opera is a very old, noble and artistic theatrical musical drama. This Intro is a fascinating inside look at opera singers and the plots of many operas, including the bigger, brand name operas- Tosca, Aida, La Traviata, La Boheme. I don't necessarily think that this is the Bible for opera beginners, there are many other sources for which one can appreciate opera, such as films and books on tape. But this is a very good introduction, with witty dialogue and with a keen connosseurship of the art form. Among the list of tenors that are highly regarded, and mentioned in this book, are Placido Domingo, Jon Vickers and Nicolai Gedda (all great tenors), and sopranos Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, Renee Fleming, and mezzo sopranos Cecilia Bartoli and Grace Bumbry. I don't believe they even mentioned Maria Callas, who was a turning point bot in opera recordings and performance. Nevertheless, a very interesting book.
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Title: 100 Great OperasAnd Their Stories : Act-By-Act Synopses by Henry W. Simon ISBN: 0385054483 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 22 April, 1989 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Classical Music for Dummies by David Pogue, Scott Speck, Glenn Dicterow ISBN: 0764550098 Publisher: For Dummies Pub. Date: 21 August, 1997 List Price(USD): $24.99 |
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Title: Opera 101:A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera by Placido Fred/Domingo Plotkin, Fred Plotkin ISBN: 0786880252 Publisher: Hyperion Pub. Date: 01 December, 1994 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title:The Most Famous Opera Arias ASIN: B000002SCE Publisher: Emi Classics Pub. Date: 19 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $3.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $3.98 |
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Title: A Night at the Opera : An Irreverent Guide to The Plots, The Singers, The Composers, The Recordings by Sir Denis Forman ISBN: 0375751769 Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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