Black Dog Opera Library Serie

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.

La Traviata is a three-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, inspired by Alexandre Dumas (the younger)'s play, La Dame aux Camélias. It is part of the "popular trilogy" alongside Il Trovatore and Rigoletto. Composed partly at the Ricordi publishers' villa in Cadenabbia, on Lake Como, it premiered at La Fenice Theatre in Venice on March 6, 1853, but initially failed due to inadequate performers and the delicate nature of its themes. Revived the following year with a better cast, it finally achieved the success it deserved. Due to criticisms of bourgeois society, the opera underwent censorship changes in various Italian theatres, with some passages altered and the setting shifted from the 19th to the 18th century. The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and societal norms, centering on the tragic romance between Violetta, a courtesan, and Alfredo, a young nobleman.

Wagners 1843 in Dresden uraufgeführte Oper lebt von starken Kontrasten: Vor dem Hintergrund aufwühlender Naturschilderungen prallen die dämonische Welt des Holländers und das Erlösungsthema der Senta aufeinander - in der tragischen Hoffnung, der zur ewigen Irrfahrt auf dem Meer Verdammte könne durch die Treue einer Frau erlöst werden.

Il "Barbiere di Siviglia" di Rossini è la storia che precede "Le nozze di Figaro" e si basa su una commedia di Beaumarchais. Questa opera è considerata da Verdi la più bella opera buffa esistente, grazie alla ricchezza di idee musicali autentiche, al suo spirito comico e alla verità della declamazione. La trama ruota attorno alle astuzie di Figaro, un barbiere intraprendente, che aiuta il conte Almaviva a conquistare la bella Rosina, la quale è sotto la custodia del geloso dottor Bartolo. Tra travestimenti, inganni e situazioni esilaranti, l'opera esplora temi di amore, libertà e astuzia, offrendo un'esperienza musicale vivace e coinvolgente. La combinazione di melodie indimenticabili e un libretto frizzante rende "Il barbiere di Siviglia" un capolavoro senza tempo nel panorama dell'opera.

The Black Dog Opera Library is the best, easiest, and most informative and budget-friendly way to enjoy four of the greatest operas of all time. Each book includes the complete Opera on 2 CDs and the complete libretto in its original language and English translation!

›Il trovatore‹ gilt als Inbegriff des romantischen italienischen Gesangstheaters. Schon zu Verdis Lebzeiten war der ›Troubadour‹ eine seiner beliebtesten Opern, die nach der Uraufführung 1853 in Rom rasch auf anderen Bühnen nachgespielt wurde. Aufgrund ihrer ungestümen und kraftvollen Musik erfreut sie sich bis heute großer Beliebtheit. Die neue Textausgabe des von Salvadore Cammarano nach dem Schauspiel ›El trovador‹ von Antonio García Gutiérrez verfassten Librettos folgt dem Druck des zur Uraufführung erschienenen Textes.