The black swan is an aria from the opera the medium by gian carlo menotti. The term libretto is also sometimes used to refer to the. Online shopping for opera styles from a great selection at books store. Herald book and job office, 1847, by cesare sterbini, contrib. Characteristics the libretto may be serious or comic, although neither form necessarily excludes elements of the other. The medium the telephone this set is a rerelease of the original 1949 recordings of the medium and the telephone by columbia, which may have been the first recordings of any american opera in its entirety. Flying dutchman, tannhauser, lohengrin, the ring, tristan, meistersinger, parsifal. The medium is a short onehourlong twoact dramatic opera with words and music by gian carlo menotti.
List of books and articles about opera online research. Libretto english and italian edition by giuseppe verdi. The world premiere of goya, gian carlo menottis effort to make opera out of the chiaroscuro career of the spanish painter, had almost everything going for it. Deceptive cadence if you want to deepen your opera experience, perhaps even head toward opera geekdom, these five books are your answer. The operas first professional production was presented on a double bill with menottis the telephone at the heckscher theater, new york city, february 1820, 1947 by the ballet society. Youre never going to haul this book to the opera house, it is true, but, on the other hand, youll probably never again have to fret over where to find a libretto for most standard repertory operas. In this authoritative and accessible account of italian opera, david kimbell introduces those who, over three hundred years, created not only a national tradition but the. This is an index of libretto pages in the internet known to me.
Menottis the medium is something of a cautionary tale, which had its genesis in a seance attended by the composer himself. The work is arguably menottis most famous serious opera and it opened at the ethel barrymore theater on broadway in. Opera differs from operetta in its musical complexity and. The baroque libretto catalogues the baroque italian operas and oratorios in the fisher library and offers an analysis of how the study of libretto can inform the understanding of opera. I am not a big of opera, nor have i attended one, i read this book because an acquaintance loaned it to me. Don giovanni by metropolitan opera house grand opera libretto and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Opera librettos national library service for the blind and print. The medium is a short onehourlong twoact dramatic opera with words and music by gian.
His realistic operas on his own librettos represent a successful combination of. It is also used, less commonly, for a musical work not intended for the stage. Schirmer the medium libretto opera series composed by giancarlo menotti at musicians friend. It was also a success in europe, where the pairing of the medium and the telephone was. Part twilight zone and part puccini, gian carlo menottis opera the medium is a camp classic, and i mean it no disrespect by describing it that way. Each opera is a chapter and is explained in about 4 to 5 pages. This page contains 1051 links to the libretti original and translations of 512 operas. The telephone the medium jul 19, 1950 oct 14, 1950. Fisher introduce you to the wonderful world of opera. I found the authors writing style engaging, injecting humor on several occasions. Opera is a cruel medium for composers and writers because you have to. In some cases also texts of other vocal pieces similar to operas are included. Information on the opera the medium by gian carlo menotti from, the webs best reference site about american opera. Complete original language texts with english translations 19960110 by unknown isbn.
Macmurray and allison brewster franzetti jan 10, 1996 4. How to become a librettist culture professionals network. Each entry includes the title, composer, and librettist. Taverner english opera libretto hal leonard online. This massive, 1,474page plus endpapers volume, which could readily double as a doorstop or a booster seat at the theater. Full list of publication mediums for mla format mla format. Complete original language texts with english translations jessica m. Welcome to opera journeys, at the vanguard of opera education. Commissioned by columbia university, its first performance was there on 8 may 1946.
His first opera of this type, the medium 1946, was a tragedy about a medium. The wisdom of wagners ring of the nibelung by roger scruton, the phantom of the opera by gaston leroux. A brief summary of the operas plot is at the start of the libretto, along with other pertinent information about the opera. As a case study here, i propose to analyze the development of the mark of cain, a chamber opera that received its world premiere at new york citys chelsea opera this past november. This circular contains braille and largeprint opera libretti. All libretti are given in parallel columns containing the original language and english translation. This wonderful new american opera, based on the unforgettable tennessee williams play, has been broadcast around the world and recorded live on deutsche grammaphon, and its been a big hit ever. Now i know why so many of my italianspeaking operagoing friends were. Libretto full text from the medium from gian carlo menotti. This notable series has been planned to embrace all the masterpieces of song and piano literature. Part twilight zone and part puccini, gian carlo menottis opera the medium is a.
In 1951, marie powers starred as baba in a film many critics consider a classic of film, let alone filmed opera. The author writes with a wry humour and provides 100 operas with a synopsis of the work, how the work came to be composed, and the circumstances etc. Musikhaus doblingers offers the largest selection of sheet music in vienna, were also your online sheet music and music book source. Living in conditions of nearsqualor, baba poses as a medium with her daughter, monica, posing as ghosts from the beyond. Complete original language texts with english translations by jessica m. They are ordered by composer and name of the opera. Currently unavailable click the availability alert to enter your name and. If you find a libretto or translation which is not yet listed please contact us. The plot of the libretto by menotti himself runs as follows. Schirmer the medium libretto opera series composed by giancarlo menotti and receive free shipping on your order and the guaranteed lowest price. A comic opera in two acts, as performed by the italian opera company at castle garden, new york, sept, 1847 new york. Medium is no longer required in the current mla 8th edition. When shakespeare enacts what the academics call medium awareness, it feels too clever by half. Bibliography, search for book about the medium at amazon.
This book sketches a brief biography of verdis life, contains notes on early. Menotti was the librettist for barbers famous opera vanessa, and the pair acted as muse and critic for more than three decades until menotti. This film version was made in italy in 1950, just four. Pages in category operas based on novels the following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 226 total. Schirmer the medium libretto opera series composed by.