Nicholas John Libri

A companion volume offering essays, surveys and summaries to inform and enlighten.

The English National Opera Guides were originally conceived in partnership with the English National Opera and edited by Nicholas John, the ENO's dramaturg, who died tragically in an accident in the Alps. Most of the guides are devoted to a single opera, which is described in detail—with many articles that cover its history and information about the composer and his times. The complete libretto is included in both the original language and in a modern singing translation—except where the opera was written in English. Each has a thematic guide to the most important musical themes in musical notation and each guide is lavishly illustrated. They also contain a bibliography and a discography which is updated at each reprint. The ENO guides are widely regarded as the best series of their kind and excellent value.

Puccini's opera "Tosca" is based on a play by Victorien Sardou, which the composer saw in Milan with the renowned actress Sarah Bernhardt. The story is partially rooted in historical events during the time of Napoleon, revolving around the tragedy of the famous singer Floria Tosca. After considerable effort, Puccini secured Sardou's approval for an opera based on this narrative, leading to the premiere of "Tosca" in Rome in 1900, which was met with overwhelming success. The text presents the Italian libretto alongside a widely used German translation, providing insights into the musical and dramatic elements of the opera, as well as the compositional structure and thematic connections. A brief summary of the plot, an overview of the work's creation, and discussions of its themes and narrative place the opera within the broader context of the composer's oeuvre and biography, offering a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction.