The Operas of Giacomo MeyerbeerWriting in 1891, the critic Eduard Hanslick observed: There is no need to found Meyerbeer societies, or to build a special Meyerbeer theater. All the public are his admirers, and the whole of Europe his Bayreuth. How things were to change in the twentieth century. Many opera lovers today have never heard of Meyerbeer. His life and work have been largely forgotten. There is little knowledge about his operas, let alone a perception of his operatic oeuvre as an integral artistic sequence. This book endeavors to redress some of this ignorance. It offers a presentation and reading of his stage works, the complete Meyerbeer operas, considered chronologically in terms of the unfolding of the composer's life and artistic concerns. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 77
Page 9
... HUGUENOTS 131 12. EIN FELDLAGER IN SCHLESIEN 164 13. VIELKA 174 14. LE PROPHÈTE 181 15. L'ÉTOILE DU NORD 210 16. LE PARDON DE PLOËRMEL ( DINORAH ) 226 17. L'AFRICAINE ( VASCO DA GAMA ) 245 Appendix . The Illustrations : Full Captions ...
... HUGUENOTS 131 12. EIN FELDLAGER IN SCHLESIEN 164 13. VIELKA 174 14. LE PROPHÈTE 181 15. L'ÉTOILE DU NORD 210 16. LE PARDON DE PLOËRMEL ( DINORAH ) 226 17. L'AFRICAINE ( VASCO DA GAMA ) 245 Appendix . The Illustrations : Full Captions ...
Page 11
... Huguenots 12. The love duet in act 4 of Les Huguenots 101 112 117 119 137 144 13. The trio of martyrdom in act 5 of Les Huguenots 14. Vielka and the Pandours from act 1 of Ein Feldlager in Schlesien 15. The Diabelli arrangement of ...
... Huguenots 12. The love duet in act 4 of Les Huguenots 101 112 117 119 137 144 13. The trio of martyrdom in act 5 of Les Huguenots 14. Vielka and the Pandours from act 1 of Ein Feldlager in Schlesien 15. The Diabelli arrangement of ...
Page 12
... Huguenots 21. Grandeur and betrayal : Catholic themes in Les Huguenots ( parts 1 and 2 ) 155 157 22. An honest man : motifs for the Comte de Nevers in Les Huguenots 159 23. Ideals and dreams : music of love and death in Les Huguenots ...
... Huguenots 21. Grandeur and betrayal : Catholic themes in Les Huguenots ( parts 1 and 2 ) 155 157 22. An honest man : motifs for the Comte de Nevers in Les Huguenots 159 23. Ideals and dreams : music of love and death in Les Huguenots ...
Page 18
... his lifetime Meyerbeer was one of the leading composers of Europe . His four operas Robert le Diable , Les Huguenots , Le Prophete , and L'Africaine were not only the culminating peaks of the traditions 18 THE OPERAS OF GIACOMO MEYERBEER.
... his lifetime Meyerbeer was one of the leading composers of Europe . His four operas Robert le Diable , Les Huguenots , Le Prophete , and L'Africaine were not only the culminating peaks of the traditions 18 THE OPERAS OF GIACOMO MEYERBEER.
Page 33
... Huguenots : " Ihr umglanzet mich in hoher Pracht " [ you shine around me in splendor ] . The love music is capa- ble of attaining considerable heights of expression , especially in the act 2 duet where the supposedly dead Asmaweth meets ...
... Huguenots : " Ihr umglanzet mich in hoher Pracht " [ you shine around me in splendor ] . The love music is capa- ble of attaining considerable heights of expression , especially in the act 2 duet where the supposedly dead Asmaweth meets ...
Contents
ROBERT LE DIABLE | 107 |
LES HUGUENOTS | 131 |
EIN FELDLAGER IN SCHLESIEN | 164 |
VIELKA | 174 |
LE PROPHÈTE | 181 |
LÉTOILE DU NORD | 210 |
LE PARDON DE PLOĒRMEL DINORAH | 226 |
LAFRICAINE VASCO DA GAMA | 245 |
ROMILDA E COSTANZA | 50 |
SEMIRAMIDE SEMIRAMIDE RICONOSCIUTA | 57 |
EMMA DI RESBURGO | 62 |
MARGHERITA DANJOU | 68 |
LESULE DI GRANATA | 79 |
IL CROCIATO IN EGITTO | 87 |
The Illustrations Full Captions | 271 |
Notes | 279 |
Bibliography | 302 |
Indexes | 339 |
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Common terms and phrases
accompaniment action airs appeared aria arranged band bass becomes beer begins Berlin brilliant called cello character chorus completed composer concert Crociato in Egitto dance dark death depiction developed Dinorah dramatic duet edition effect expression famous Fantaisie Fantasia figure final flute Forte French German Giacomo Meyerbeer gives Grand hand harp heart Huguenots Italian Italy king L'Africaine L'Étoile du Nord l'opéra later Les Huguenots libretto London major March melody Meyerbeer Meyerbeer's opera Milan military minor motifs nature opening Opéra orchestral original overture Pardon de Ploërmel Paris performance piano Pianoforte piece play political present Press production Prophète Raoul reflected religious Robert le Diable role Romani scene score Scribe sense shows situation solo song soprano stage story symbol takes theme tion Vielka vocal writing York
Popular passages
Page 25 - If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering.
Page 297 - COURAGE and personal BRAVERY. Taken from her own Mouth when A Pensioner of Chelsea-Hospital, And known to be true by Many who were engaged in those great Scenes of ACTION. LONDON: Printed for and Sold by R. MONTAGU, at the BookWare-House, in Great Wylde- Street, 1740. PREFACE. IN the following life of Mrs. CHRISTIAN DAVIES, taken from her own mouth, we may remark examples of uncommon intrepidity but rarely found in the fair sex.
Page 285 - Drive my dead thoughts over the universe Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth! And, by the incantation of this verse, Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind! Be through my lips to unawakened earth The trumpet of a prophecy ! O, Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
Page 29 - For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings [Hos.
Page 285 - Sweet though in sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce, My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one! Drive my dead thoughts over the universe, Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth! And, by the incantation of this verse, Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind...
Page 286 - ... never do. You want strength of mind to force them to obedience ; and unless you pay their established price, they will not be your voluntary servants. In this one instance they consent to obey ; I offer you the means of enjoying your mistress, and be careful not to lose the opportunity. Receive this constellated myrtle : while you bear this in your hand, every door will fly open to you.
Page 297 - MOTHER ROSS; Who, in several Campaigns Under King William and the Late Duke of Marlborough, In the Quality of A Foot-Soldier and Dragoon, Gave many signal Proofs of an unparallell'd Courage and personal Bravery.
Page 116 - They drop in like flakes of snow and are certainly very charming witches with their jaunty Parisian figures and most refined pirouettes! . . . The diabolical music and the dead rising from their tombs and the terrible darkness and the strange dance unite to form a stage effect almost unrivaled.119 The dramaturgical implications of the Gesamtkunstwerk are clear.
Page 116 - It was magnificent and terrific and diabolical and enchanting and everything else fine. The music and the show and the dancing! The famous witch's dance, in the freezing moonlight in the ruined abbey, was as impressive as I expected, though there was no Taglioni to lead the troop. They drop in like flakes of snow and are certainly very charming witches with their jaunty Parisian figures and most refined pirouettes!