The Story of Opera explores the centuries-old tradition in which the emotional power of music is linked to the human issues that can be enacted as stories. The first part, “Going to the Opera,” introduces newcomers to every element of the operatic experience - venues, seating arrangements, dress and costumes, stage effects, orchestra, singers, and dancers - describing how each began and changed over the years, and how they have all combined to enthrall audiences for four centuries. The remaining parts explore operatic repertory from the 17th century to the present, providing insightful readings of plots, particular scenes, staging, and music. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I: Experiencing Opera Chapter 1: Going to the Opera House Chapter 2: The Orchestra Plays Chapter 3: The Cast Appears Chapter 4: The Story Unfolds Part II: Opera of the 17th Century Chapter 5: Opera in Princely Courts: Florence and Mantua Monteverdi: Orfeo Chapter 6: Opera in Commercial Opera Houses: Venice Cavalli: Giasone Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea Chapter 7: National Opera: Paris and London Lully: Alceste, Atys, Armide Purcell: Dido and Aeneas Part III: Opera of the 18th Century Chapter 8: Opera on Classical Subjects Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto Rameau: Dardamus, Hippolyte et Aricie Gluck: Orfeo et Euridice, Alceste, the Iphigenia operas Chapter 9: Opera on Comic Subjects The Beggar's Opera Pergolesi: La serva padrona Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte Part IV: Opera of the 19th Century Chapter 10: Opera on Themes of Political Conflict Grétry: Richard Coeur-de-Lion Beethoven: Fidelio Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots Bellini: Norma Verdi: Aida Musorgsky: Boris Godunov Chapter 11: Opera on Themes of Domestic Conflict Bizet: Carmen Rossini: The Barber of Seville Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor Verdi: La Traviata, Otello Puccini: La bohème Chapter 12: Opera on Legendary Themes Gounod: Faust Wagner: The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Die Walküre Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila Rimsky-Korsakov: The Legend of Kitezh Dvorák: Rusalka Part V: Opera of the 20th Century and Beyond Chapter 13: Human-Interest Opera Janácek: Jenufa Berg: Wozzeck Gershwin: Porgy and Bess Britten: Peter Grimes Operas of Floyd and Heggie Shostakovich: The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District Poulenc: Dialogues of the Carmelites Adams: The Death of Klinghoffer Chapter 14: Operas of Dreaming Saariaho: L'Amour de loin Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress Messiaen: Saint Francis of Assisi Schoenberg: Moses and Aaron Operas of Thomson, Glass, and Davis Ligeti: Le Grand Macabre Ravel: L'Enfant et les Sortilèges Glossary Notes Works Cited Credits Index