Rigoletto, Trovatore and Traviata

In his “middle period,” Verdi was responsible for the creation of three of opera’s great works, Rigoletto, Trovatore, and Traviata. This volume examines the history of composition, of performance, and the sourcing of each of these masterpieces. The author provides analyses of the musical and dramatic accompaniments for each work as well as the ways in which their presentation has changed over time. Also included are discographies and videographies with critical analyses.

The late Clyde T. McCants was the author of several opera books. A retired minister, he lived in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Clyde T. McCants
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 227
Bibliographic Info: 114 musical notations and lyrics, discographies, notes, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3496-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Introduction      1
1. Before Rigoletto 3
2. The Miracle of Rigoletto 10
3. Rigoletto Realized      19
4. Il Trovatore: The Romantic Ideal      42
5. The Troubadour Sings      52
6. The Lady of the Camelias: La Traviata from Hard Fact to High Art      75
7. Love and Death Set to Music      86
8. Rigoletto Recordings      106
9. Il Trovatore Recordings      138
10. La Traviata Recordings      165
11. Video Presentations      195

Notes 209
Further Reading      215
Index/I>      217