Tales from the Operas

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 443K words
Chapters: 45

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Tales from the Operas by George Frederick PardonAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: MT: Music: Musical instruction and study, Composition, Release Date: Jul 30, 2018

Editor's review

This book is a collection of opera stories by George Frederick Patton, a public-domain e-book prepared and released by Project Gutenberg. It rewrites the plots of many operas as prose stories that can be read independently, so that readers can grasp character relationships, the development of conflict and the outcome without familiarity with scores or librettos. Its value lies in serving as a plot index for beginners to opera: read the stories first to build an overall framework, then when listening to recordings or watching performances it becomes easier to follow the stage action and musical sections. The writing is in a nineteenth-century popular narrative style, with moderate information density, suitable for browsing in spare moments. It should be noted that it presents plot summaries rather than musical analysis, and has no modern scholarly annotations; readers who wish to investigate version differences or compositional technique will still need specialised studies. It can be used as background reading before attending a performance, or to review the plot afterwards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginner audiences who want to understand opera plots but lack a foundation in music theory
Readers preparing to attend a performance who wish to become familiar with the characters and plot in advance
Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century popular narrative and want a story collection to dip into

Not a good fit for

Professional readers who need musical analysis, compositional technique or scholarly textual study
Researchers who expect modern annotations, version comparison and in-depth commentary
Readers who prefer the pace of contemporary fiction and have little patience for old-fashioned prose

Reading tips

First read through the plot summaries of the operas that interest you, then listen to the corresponding recordings with the character relationships in mind.
Use the book as background reading before attending a performance, noting the main characters and conflicts after each piece.
There is no need to read from beginning to end; you can jump between operas or follow your performance plans to reduce unfamiliarity.
After reading, review the plot against a performance or recording to test your grasp of how the story unfolds.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone who knows nothing about opera?

It is suitable as an introduction to the plots. It rewrites operatic content as prose stories and does not require score-reading or knowledge of Italian or German librettos. However, the book does not explain musical structure or vocal technique, so readers should pair it with recordings or performance videos to connect the stories with what happens on stage.

Are the stories in the book exactly the same as the original opera librettos?

It is a retelling and summary for general readers, condensing librettos and merging scenes, with the focus on characters and plot development. Different opera versions also differ from one another, so it cannot be used as a word-for-word libretto. For exact dialogue, consult the original libretto or an authoritative translation.

Do I need to read the book in order from the first story to the last?

No. The stories are relatively independent and can be read in any order according to interest or performance plans. It is best to start with the opera you plan to see soon and build up the character relationships before listening to a recording, which is more immediately useful. Reading cover to cover suits those who want an overall sense of common operatic subjects and narrative conventions.

Can this book replace watching a performance or listening to a recording?

No. It provides the skeleton of the plot, while the core experience of opera also includes music, singing and stage performance. It is better used as a guide before a performance or a tool for reviewing afterwards; truly experiencing a work still requires recordings, videos or live performances.

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