Sing Sorrow: Classics, History, and Heroines in Opera

Opera has often used classical literature as a means of expressing the most vital concerns of the period in which the operas were written. Sing Sorrow explores the classical roots of many noted operas, illustrating the ways in which the operas reflected the political concerns of their time through these ancient narratives. In particular, though female opera characters are often regarded as victims, they are actually quite heroic, frequently shaping their own destinies.

Each chapter provides background and historical context, examines the relationship between the opera and the original work of literature, and suggests what the music contributes to the interpretation. Through the lens of the classics, Sing Sorrow approaches opera from a unique aesthetic and cultural standpoint, giving a new perspective to both opera and its literary and dramatic ancestors.

Author: Marianne McDonald
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 09/30/2001
Pages: 360
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.41lbs
Size: 9.56h x 6.30w x 1.05d
ISBN: 9780313315671

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 02/01/2002 pg. 182
Choice 06/01/2002 pg. 1780

About the Author

MARIANNE MCDONALD is Professor of Theatre and Classics at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. She was a Fulbright professor in 1999 and in addition to her post at UCSD, is adjunct professor at Trinity College Dublin and a fellow at the National University of Ireland. With over 140 publications, she is the author of Terms for Happiness in Euripides, Euripides in Cinema, Ancient Sun/Modern Light, and Star Myths.