Review (PDF) Barber Of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library)
The Black Dog Opera Library is the most popular, informative, and budget-friendly way to enjoy all the great operas. Each book contains a history of the opera, a synopsis of the story, a complete libretto in its original language as well as in English, dozens of photos, and a world-class Angel/EMI recording of the entire opera on two CDs. All of this for under twenty dollars!
Series: Black Dog Opera Library
Hardcover: 141 pages
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal (January 1, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1579120202
ISBN-13: 978-1579120207
Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.5 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #2,247,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #41 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Rossini #602 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Early Romantic #1651 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Opera
As with the other Black Dog Opera Library Collections, the Barber of Seville combines CDs of the full opera with a 140+ page hardbound book of pictures, history, libretto and critique. It is perfect both for those new to opera and for the opera savvy.Author David Foil offers a historical critique of the Barber of Seville and relates the impact it had on the music world. Foil also tells the story of Rossini's experiences writing the opera, which took less than one month.The musical recordings alone are reason to buy the book. Perhaps the greatest opera conductor of our time, James Levine, conducts Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes and the London Symphony Orchestra in a wonderful rendition of this famous opera.I highly recommend this book and CD to anyone. Nowhere else can you find such a complete package of music, words and pictures for such a reasonable price. So, if you wish to listen to the famous strains of "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro" this is your book.
This book and CD set are the perfect combination for those who are new to the world of opera and not fluent in foreign language. Better than just a synopsis, the libretto in English lets you read every word so you won't miss the humor or pathos. As a homeschooling mom, I really appreciated this set as a teaching tool. I hope to increase my collection of The Black Dog Opera Library series.
Be aware that the book shown when you take a "Look Inside" is NOT the book you get. What they show is a bound copy of the musical score with the libretto added. What you get is the libretto described in the written review, no musical score. That having been said, the book you get is useful and of interest, and the CD is a great recording.
This is a first rate Barber. Beverly Sills, upon whom the recording sinks or swims is a melodic and comic gem. James Levine's conducting is precise yet lush and captures the often rollicking brilliance of the score. Nicholi Gedda's Count is all mischief and Ruggero Raimondi is so expressive that you fell you can almost see him.The recording came in EMI's Black Dog Opera series. It's a tidy package, hardbound about the size of a paperback book. The text in the attached book is decidedly for the a listener new to opera. However the photos and historical data are interesting and the libretto is convenient to follow while listening to the recording.
I should have read all of the reviews before purchasing, because based on the description, I believed this would contain the musical score and was disappointed that it did not. It is still a beautiful book, though, and worth the purchase for the words and translations, the history, and the 2-CD set... but I'll have to look again for the music.
I have several "Black Dog Opera" recordings, and they are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to opera WIHTOUT spending a lot of money. This label primarily offers recordings of extremely well-known operas. I had some initial concerns regarding sound quality given the price, but I have yet to be disappointed by them -- Barber of Seville is no exception. Each opera comes in a neatly packaged book that contains the full libretto in its original language and in translation; the history of the opera and its performance; and short biographies of the composer and cast. The books are just the right size to tuck them in your purse (or bag!) so that you can follow the libretto along at a live performance -- I took Barber with me to last year's Chicago Opera Theater production and plan to take Tosca along to Lyric later this year! What a great idea!
Barber of Seville (Black Dog Opera Library) The Barber of Seville: Chorus Parts (Italian, English Language Edition), Chorus Parts (Kalmus Edition) (Italian Edition) The Barber of Seville in Full Score (Dover Music Scores) 2 Overtures: The Barber of Seville and William Tell: Eulenburg Audio+Score Series The Barber of Seville Vocal Score BARBER OF SEVILLE OVERTURE STUDY SCORE The Barber of Seville and the Marriage of Figaro (Classics S) The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro (Classics) Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes: Fun Homemade Dog Treats for the Busy Pet Lover (Dog Training and Dog Care Series Book 2) Bonding with Your Rescue Dog: Decoding and Influencing Dog Behavior (Dog Training and Dog Care Series Book 1) Dog Training: 50 Dog Smart Tricks (Free 130+ Dog Recipe Book Inside): Step by Step Activities for Full engagement, Fun and Increased Dog IQ Homemade Healthy Dog Food Food Recipes (Because Your Dog Deserves The Best All Natural Dog Food and Health Dog Recipes!) Black Dog Opera Library Box Set: Includes La Bohème, Carmen, La Traviata and The Marriage of Figaro Carmen (Book and CD's): Black Dog Opera Library Black Dog Opera Library Deluxe Box Set Aida: Black Dog Opera Library (Book & Audio CD) Aida (Black Dog Opera Library) La Traviata (Book and CD's): Black Dog Opera Library The Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog Dog Training: Puppy Training Tips For an Obedient and Happy Family Member (Dog Grooming, Dog Tricks, Stuffed Animals) (Volume 1)
