Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Classical Music Books and Scores Editor, Thomas May FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * Titles of Interest: "The Musical Dialogue: Thoughts on Monteverdi, Bach and Mozart" by Nikolaus Harnoncourt; "Believing in Opera" by Tom Sutcliffe; "Beethoven: His Spiritual Development" by J.W.N. Sullivan; and "La Callas" by Andre Tubeuf * Digital Downloads: "Home to Thanksgiving" conducted by Paul Hillier and "St. Matthew Passion" conducted by Philippe Herreweghe * CD Box Sets/"Bach 2000" Giveaway * Holiday Spotlight: Handel's "Messiah" TITLES OF INTEREST ****************** "The Musical Dialogue: Thoughts on Monteverdi, Bach and Mozart" by Nikolaus Harnoncourt http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574670239/entertainmentsit Nikolaus Harnoncourt has been one of the most important and influential leaders of the 20th-century revival of Baroque instruments and period performance practice--not just because he's a hardworking and talented musician, but because he's articulate. "The Musical Dialogue" is a valuable collection of lectures and essays laying out his ideas. Here Harnoncourt gets specific: he discusses how Monteverdi, Bach, and Mozart used particular instruments and forms and talks about his own experience analyzing and performing specific works. Among the topics he treats are the various possibilities for instrumentation in Monteverdi's works (and why there are so many) and the performance history of the "St. Matthew Passion" and the Mass in B Minor. Perhaps most valuable are Harnoncourt's discussions of Mozart: for example, how the meaning of tempo markings such as "allegro" and "andante" has changed from the 18th century to today, and the many and varied conventions of phrasing that were widely understood--and therefore were not written out in Mozart's scores and performing parts. One caveat: these essays were written in the 1970s and 1980s, and there are a few cases where subsequent events have overtaken Harnoncourt's comments. Nevertheless, the observations of this important, influential, and idiosyncratic maestro make fascinating reading. "Believing in Opera" by Tom Sutcliffe http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691015635/entertainmentsit The tension between opera's conservatives and innovators has gone on for years: the defenders of an established canon take issue with those who want fresh perspectives. Directors grow increasingly daring, and they often stir controversy with extreme interpretations. Tom Sutcliffe, a British opera journalist, stands firmly with the innovators. He sees opera's future health in its ability to reimagine its classics. His descriptions of the work of provocative directors in the past two decades make a persuasive case, even when some of the productions sound like misfires. Sutcliffe locates the true effect of a performance inside the mind of the spectator. For him, "believing" in a performance--the ability to become engaged and stirred by it--is the crucial sign of its worth. It is a measure that allows the greatest latitude in interpretation. Sutcliffe examines the work of some aggressively imaginative directors such as Patrice Chereau, Peter Sellars, and Richard Jones. Live performances are difficult to write about for those who haven't seen them. Sutcliffe fails to solve the problem with excessively minute descriptions of staging, which tend to obscure his larger points. His uninflected prose style, perhaps designed for reportorial accuracy, doesn't help. Nevertheless, his study will stimulate those who see opera as a limitless source of theatrical riches. "Beethoven: His Spiritual Development" by J.W.N. Sullivan http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394701003/entertainmentsit Great creative artists can engage people's imagination for centuries. Beethoven, as man and composer, has inspired innumerable books both by his contemporaries and later writers, and it is proof of his endlessly fascinating, controversial nature that they all throw a different light on some aspect of his life and work. Since Sullivan wrote his book in 1927, much new information about Beethoven, his character, his illnesses, and his relationships has come to light, but it is still a valid contribution to the Beethoven literature. Sullivan's basic theory is that Beethoven's greatness lies in his extraordinary perceptions, his heightened experiences and "states of consciousness," and his ability to organize and synthesize these into a musical expression of a "view of life." He asserts that Beethoven's initially despairing, then defiant struggle against his suffering--especially his deafness and resulting isolation-- gives his middle-period works their heroism, and that his ultimate acceptance of it as necessary to his creativity marks the peak of his "spirituality" and gives his latest works their unparalleled sublimity. Sullivan, who is not a musician, offers some interesting, if sometimes extravagantly extramusical, analyses of Beethoven's works. He also makes subjective, high-handed value judgments. But his book brings up questions about beauty and greatness in art, the relationship between moral character and genius, and the impact of a person's personal experiences upon creativity--all age-old but forever timely. "La Callas" by Andre Tubeuf http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789303817/entertainmentsit It's hard to believe there's a whole new generation of opera lovers who have come of age with little acquaintance with the unparalleled art of Maria Callas. This singer was a key catalyzing element in the postwar renaissance of fascination with opera's possibilities--musical and dramatic--that continues into the present. Of course, the techniques of "mechanical reproduction" can only hint at the unique aura that this icon--known to her admirers as "La Divina"--possessed. But no opera lover should be without at least some examples of her recorded legacy, say in such signature roles as Tosca, Norma, or Violetta in "La Traviata." As for that other crucial aspect of the Callas aura--her mesmerizing stage presence--this attractively produced book offers a tantalizing hint, whether for the longtime Callas fanatic or the budding operaphile. Copublished by the Vendome Press (which is also the source for the lavishly illustrated coffee-table tribute to the Great Tenors), "La Callas" is essentially a visual essay comprising 40-plus black-and-white photographs. We see the artist backstage, in her private life, and wearing the masks of several of her great roles. When Callas becomes the medium for one of these character interpretations--Medea, Lucia, Butterfly--the utter transformation registered by the camera is still transfixing. Introducing the photographs is a short but notionally rich essay by French music critic Andre Tubeuf, consisting of a thumbnail sketch of Callas's life and some thoughtful musings on the significance of her fame. Those seeking an in-depth assessment of Callas's legacy will do well by John Ardoin's well-regarded "The Callas Legacy"; the recent controversial biography by Stelios Galatopoulos should also be of interest. DIGITAL DOWNLOADS ***************** "Home to Thanksgiving" The impulse to take stock and give thanks has inspired music from the earliest times, and it lies behind some of our most enduring musical traditions. Gathered together from contemporary troubadour Paul Hillier's visionary recordings, "Home to Thanksgiving" presents a fascinating collection of centuries of thanksgiving in music. Browse Music "St. Matthew Passion" J.S. Bach created many musical monuments, but his setting of the "St. Matthew Passion" stands out even in the lifework of this genius for its shattering power and narrative grip. Bach communicates the story of Jesus' death through a rich variety of musical styles, building the work up into a cosmic drama. Download excerpts from the brilliant new recording by Bach expert Philippe Herreweghe. Browse Music CD BOX SETS/"BACH 2000" GIVEAWAY ******************************** The year 1999 has seen an explosion of big (really big!) CD box sets. From John Adams to Teldec's "Bach 2000" edition of the complete works of J.S. Bach, there have never been so many great classical box sets to beef up your collection. Here's a list including the most impressive new box releases. And remember to check Amazon.com's Classical store for our exciting "Bach 2000" giveaway promotion, starting November 30. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/feature/-/14870 HOLIDAY SPOTLIGHT ***************** "The Messiah: An Oratorio Complete Vocal Score" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0793505070/entertainmentsit Ever since its premier in 1742, Handel's "Messiah" has remained one of the most popular pieces of music ever composed. Although the piece was originally written as an Easter work, no Christmas season seems complete without its resounding choruses and immensely varied, heartfelt arias. And this popular piano-vocal edition of the score is a must-have if you plan to join in on a Handel sing-along. Moreover, the seemingly infinite number of recorded versions of the oratorio can present a daunting choice to the record buyer. Amazon.com contributor Ted Libbey weighs the merits of some of the more prominent interpretations in this discography. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=ts/feature/3391 ****** Announcing sothebys.amazon.com Just imagine visiting--anytime, any day--the world's foremost auction house and 4,500-plus professional dealers. We've partnered with Sotheby's to launch a new Web site that realizes all that and more. At sothebys.amazon.com all items are guaranteed and you'll receive a Property Certificate that documents the unique history of each purchase. Visit today and find a world of incredible objects starting at $100: Auction ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Classical Music Books section at Classical ******
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