Description
Book SynopsisFocusing on the age of Giselle at the Paris Opera (from the 1830s through the 1840s), this book looks at the structural and thematic relationship between ballet and opera. It argues that an understanding of both the genres - and of nineteenth-century theater-going culture in general - may be gained by examining them within the same framework.
Trade ReviewWinner of the 2001 De la Torre Bueno Prize for Most Distinguished Book in Dance Scholarship, Dance Perspectives Foundation (New York) "To readers interested in the evolution of opera and ballet performance practice, Smith's meticulously documented study offers a chance to see many familiar works in a new and surprising light."--M. Lignana Rosenberg, Opera News "Marian Smith's book is a swift and easy read, fully researched, informative, genuinely insightful about her subject. Definitely one for the bookshelf."--David Blewitt, Opera Now
Table of ContentsLIST OF TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ix PREFACE xi ACKN0WLEDGMENTS xix NOTE T0 READER xxi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction: Music and the Story 3 CHAPTER TWO: A Family Resemblance 19 CHAPTER THREE: The Lighter Tone of Ballet-Pantomime 59 CHAPTER FOUR: Ballet-Pantomime and Silent Language 97 CHAPTER FIVE: Hybrid Works at the Opera 124 CHAPTER SIX: Giselle 167 APPENDIX ONE: Ballet-Pantomimes and Operas Produced at the Paris Opera, 1825-1850 201 APPENDIX TWO: The Giselle Libretto 213 APPENDIX THREE: Sources for Musical Examples 239 NOTES 241 INDEX 301
