Description
Book SynopsisVerdi came to Shakespeare through Italian translation and had never seen Macbeth on stage when he wrote his first version of the opera in 1847. Giorgio Melchiori draws a parallel between the conditions in which the playwright and the composer were working and compares their achievements. The supernatural was a vital element in both conceptions: the opera is in the fantastic style, with bizarre music for the witches' dances and choruses. Theatre historian Michael Booth vividly introduces the staging of Shakespeare in the nineteenth century. Harold Powers discusses how the dramatic situations lent themselves to the forms and purposes of Italian opera.Contents: Macbeth': Shakespeare to Verdi, Giorgio Melchiori; Making Macbeth' Musicabile', Harold Powers; Macbeth' and the Nineteenth-Century Theatre, Michael R. Booth; A Note on Shakespeare's Macbeth', August Wilhelm Schlegel; The Preface in the Ricordi Libretto; Piave's Intended Preface for the 1847 Libretto; Macbeth: Libretto by Francesco
Trade ReviewBrilliantly produced and superb value.' * Sunday Times *
All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought.' * Daily Telegraph *
Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series.' * TLS *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations 'Macbeth': Shakespeare to Verdi by Giorgio Melchiori Making 'Macbeth' 'Musicabile' by Harold Powers 'Macbeth' and the Nineteenth-Century Theatre by Michael R. Booth Thematic Guide A Note on Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' by August Wilhelm Schlegel The Preface in the Ricordi Libretto Piave's Intended Preface for the 1847 Libretto 'Macbeth' Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, 1865 'Macbeth' English translation by Jeremy Sams Act One Act Two Act Three Act Four Additional Scenes from the 1847 version Discography by David Nice Bibliography Contributors
