The assoluta voice in opera, 1797-1847 / by Geoffrey S. Riggs.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Riggs, Geoffrey S.

Contributor:

Class of 1924 Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Singing--History.

Singing.

History.

Opera--19th century.

Opera.

Style, Musical.

Physical Description:

viii, 263 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2003]

Summary:

This work traces the emergence of the impressive vocal writing that resulted from the marriage of the bel canto and Romantic eras. It also covers the uniquely versatile divas who were given the opportunities to make their mark from the time of Cherubini to that of a young Verdi.

Both the wide-ranging vocalism in the scores themselves and the artists capable of performing this style are referred to as assoluta. Chapters consider Luigi Cherubini's Medee, Gioacchino Rossini's Armida, Carl Maria von Weber's Oberon, Gaetano Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Vincenzo Bellini's Norma, Donizetti's Gemma di Vergy and Roberto Devereux, the period of transition in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco and Macbeth.

Contents:

Earliest virtuosi

Women's voices

Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842) : Médée

Médée on disc

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) : Armida

Armida on disc

Assoluta Manquée (I)

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) : Oberon

Rezia on disc

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) : Anna Bolena

Bolena on disc

Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) : Norma

Norma on disc

Donizetti (1797-1848) : Gemma di Vergy

Gemma on disc

Donizetti (1797-1848) : Roberto Devereux

The Virgin Queen on disc

Time of transition

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) : Nabucco

Abigaille on disc

Verdi (1813-1901) : Macbeth

Shakespeare's lady on disc

Assoluta Manquée (II)

Voices from the past.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-248) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Class of 1924 Book Fund.

ISBN:

0786414014

OCLC:

50841056