Women Opera Composers

The history of women in the opera is a grand story. Women were singers and patrons, of course, but from opera’s beginnings in Renaissance Italy, they were also opera composers and librettists. At first it was exclusively for the nobility. In the 19th century, with the emergence of the middle class and the rise of nationalism, there were more public theaters and opera seemed to be everywhere. This meant more opportunities for composers, though men predominated.
This book focuses on the women, from the 16th century to today, who had successful careers in opera, many of them well known in their time.

Mary F. McVicker, with degrees in law and finance, writes full-time in Oak Park, Illinois. She is the author of four previous books.

Mary F. McVicker
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 284
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9513-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2361-0
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments  vi
Introduction  1
1590–1636  3
1637–1700  4
1700–1800  7
1800–1849  26
1850–1899  39
1900–1939  75
1940–1970  121
1970 to Present  163
Children’s Operas  213
Librettists  215
Bibliography  263
Index  265

“organized and easy to read…will be an excellent addition to an academic library music collection for readers interested in learning more about this important topic”—ARBA.