Placido Domingo's Tales from the Opera - Hardcover

Snowman, Daniel

3.8

5 ratings by Goodreads

9780931340987: Placido Domingo's Tales from the Opera

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0931340985 ISBN 13: 9780931340987

Publisher: Amadeus Pr, 1995

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Placido Domingo has been one of the greatest stars in the operatic firmament for over a quarter of a century, a man whose combination of vocal, dramatic and musical gifts is probably unmatched in the history of opera. A massive public has learnt to revere his legendary portrayals, while millions all over the world know and love his art through television, film and an immense discography.
What the public does not see is the detailed preparation and concentrated hard work that lie behind these towering performances. Now, Daniel Snowman takes us inside the rehearsal room and shows us something of the humour, the pathos, the tensions and the sheer hard work as the clock ticks away and the first night approaches.
In a wide-ranging book, Snowman considers Domingo's vocal qualities, the nature and depth of his musicianship, his abilities as an actor and something of the inner motivation that has enabled him to achieve so much for so long.

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From Booklist:

Placido Domingo is one of the foremost actor-singers gracing the opera stage today. He is variously described as gracious, affable, generous, and always challenged, and so Snowman portrays him in the four performances treated in this book. In his first excursion into singing Wagner's Ring, Domingo is Sigmund in Abbado's production of Die Walkure in Vienna. Looking toward his retirement from singing, he conducts La Boheme at the Los Angeles Opera. Next, he goes to the Metropolitan Opera to reprise his number-one role, Verdi's Otello, in his "home" house. Finally, he resurrects Il Guarany by Carlos Gomes, the "Verdi of Brazil," at the Bonn Opera. Snowman includes in each chapter a summary of the particular opera's plot, a description of the house in which it is performed and the production staff, and commentary on the actual performance, but precious little from Domingo himself, which will disappoint true fans. Perhaps the BBC TV series this book accompanies better maintains focus on Domingo, the consummate performer and musician. Alan Hirsch

From Library Journal:

Opera superstar Domingo has undoubtedly successfully crossed into the mainstream with his recordings of popular songs and media event concerts with fellow tenors Carreras and Pavarotti. In recent years he has also taken on a number of conducting assignments, earning respectable reviews. Here BBC producer Snowman (The World of Placido Domingo, McGraw, 1985) takes a look at four recent projects: Die Walkure in Vienna, La Boheme in Los Angeles, Otello at New York's Metropolitan Opera, and Guarany at the Bonn Opera, from early rehearsals to opening nights. Snowman is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the operas, the theaters, and the singers. Unfortunately, as in his earlier biography, his excessive admiration for his subject quickly becomes tiresome. Demand may be generated by four related BBC specials, but for the most part, this book will be of interest only to very dedicated Domingo fans.?Kate McCaffrey, Onondaga Cty. P.L., Syracuse, N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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