An Opera Score composed by Jacques Offenbach.
#1628610 in eBooks 1999-12-11 2015-06-25File Name: B00EUT607Y
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Grand Opera thrives!By CurieThis is a brilliant book; an extraordinary achievement. The authors are obviously passionate about their subject: they also have the intellects to compress the event-packed story of the Met into eleven chapters; a compression that nevertheless lets the vastness of the books topic breathe and come to life. It is impossible to read this book without being impressed with the sweep of the books scope and depth. The book covers the story of the Met from 1883 to 2013; 130 years of the opera company from its extraordinary beginnings to its current status as one of the crowning cultural achievements of western culture. Every opera in the Mets repertoire is dealt with and the authors passion for their subject matter is evident on every page. The first nights production of Gounods Faust on October 22; 1883 is so vividly rendered one feels transported; as if one could view the arrival of the carriages; the scalpers peddling of their price-inflated tickets; celebrity and money well represented in the raucous audience (The Vanderbilts; the Lord Chief Justice of England) not to mention of course the five hours of the opera itself. From that historic first night to the present (2013) this book covers an immense amount of history and music: bel canto; French opera; Puccini; Wagner; Verdi; American opera; twentieth-century opera; Baroque and Slavic opera are all represented with care; reverence and a most infectious brio. Oscar Hammersteins response to the question "Hows business?" is part of operatic lore. "Operas no business" he quipped. "Its a disease!" This most readable; informative; scholarly yet fun book makes it clear that the "disease" is alive and well and looking forward to its most assured robust and healthy future.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Treat For DevoteesBy Anne MillsThis history of New Yorks Metropolitan Opera provides a highly detailed account of the institutions progress since it opened its doors in 1998 up to the present day. "Progress" is an interesting word in this context: it is striking how often developments at the Met repeated past patterns; and how often the institution swung from proud self confidence to financial crisis. Devotees of the Met will delight in this book: it covers every season; every manager; and most of the major singers. Those (like me) who enjoy opera but dont conflate the Met and the art form may find this book a bit much. But there is no harm in a little too much information; and this is an enjoyable read for any opera buff.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. About as much fun to read as an academic textbookBy CustomerAbout as much fun to read as an academic textbook. I refer the reader to the bottom of page 348; in which the authors state that Placido Domingo made his Met debut "at Bings 39th Street Met." Blatantly wrong!! Domingos debut took place in 1968; at which time the old house had already been demolished! If this is an example of the authors scholarship; it puts the entire book in a doubtful light.