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First Aid to the Opera-Goer
Paperback
General MusicMusic Instruction: GeneralOpera
ISBN13: 9781025411613
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 398
Weight: 1.22
Height: 0.82 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
First Aid to the Opera-Goer is an essential companion for anyone seeking to navigate the complex and enchanting world of opera. Written with the aim of demystifying the stage, Mary Fitch Watkins provides a comprehensive guide to the plots, characters, and musical highlights of the most beloved operas in the standard repertoire. From the tragic depths of Verdi and Puccini to the mythological grandeur of Wagner, this work breaks down the intricate narratives that can often feel inaccessible to the casual listener.
Watkins presents the stories in a lively and engaging manner, focusing on the dramatic action and the key emotional beats that define each performance. By offering a scene-by-scene breakdown, the author ensures that readers can follow the progression of the music alongside the unfolding drama on stage. This guide serves not only as a functional tool for the evening's entertainment but also as a testament to the enduring cultural significance of operatic storytelling during the early twentieth century.
Whether you are a seasoned aficionado or a newcomer attending your first performance, First Aid to the Opera-Goer offers valuable insights into the artistry and passion of the lyric stage. It remains a charming and informative resource for understanding the historical context and theatrical brilliance of the world's greatest musical dramas.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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