Opera often seems to arouse either irrational enthusiasm or visceral dislike. Such madness, as Goethe wrote, is indispensable in all theater, and yet in practice, sentiment and passion must be balanced by sense and reason. Exploring this tension between madness and reason, “Not without Madness” presents new analytical approaches to thinking about eighteenth – and nineteenth-century opera through the lenses of its historical and cultural contexts. In these twelve essays, Fabrizio Della Seta explores the concept of opera as a dramatic event and an essential moment in the history of theater. Examining the meaning of opera and the devices that produce and transmit this meaning, he looks at the complex verbal, musical, and scenic mechanisms in parts of “La sonnambula”, “Ernani”, “Aida”, “Le nozze di Figaro”, “Macbeth”, and “Il trovatore”. He argues that approaches to the study of opera must address performance, interpretation, composition, reception, and cultural ramifications. Purely musical analysis does not make sense unless we take into account music’s dramatic function. Containing many essays available for the first time in English, Not without Madness bridges recent divisions in opera studies and will attract musicologists, musicians, and opera lovers alike.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Not without Madness abounds with highly original concepts and insights. Fabrizio Della Seta tackles the subject of meaning in music and opera in an engaging way, responding to a wealth of stimuli not only from the fields of musicology, but also from literature and philosophy. This book stands out as a remarkably dense, exciting, and rewarding read.”– “Francesco Izzo, University of Southampton”
“An admirable contribution to opera criticism. Fabrizio Della Seta explores, with great insight, some of the most beloved and influential operas by Mozart, Meyerbeer, Verdi, and others. His remarks on the ways in which these works have been discussed by generations of critics and scholars are immensely thoughtful and stimulating.”– “Ralph P. Locke, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester”
“Della Seta’s chapters delight in the joys and sorrows of opera as ongoing cultural practice and as evolving field of study.” — “Notes”
“Dense and erudite, these essays will be valuable to those interested in 19th-century opera criticism.”– “Choice”
“There is much here to satisfy any reader with an interest in getting a close look at some key operatic moments.” — “Opera News”
About the Author
Fabrizio Della Seta is professor of music history and musical philology in the Facolta di Musicologia at the University of Pavia in Cremona, Italy. Mark Weir is a lecturer in English and English translation at the University of Naples, L’Orientale.
Wow! eBook
