German Opera From the Beginnings to Wagner [Hardcover]

This wide-ranging history explores German opera from its primitive origins up to Wagner.German opera from its primitive origins up to Wagner is the subject of this wide-ranging history, the only one of its kind in any language. It traces the growth of the humble Singspiel into a vehicle for the genius of Mozart and Beethoven, together with the persistent attempts at German Grand Opera. The many operas studied are placed in their historical, social and theatrical context, and attention is paid to the literary, artistic and philosophical ideas that made them part of the country's intellectual history.German opera from its primitive origins up to Wagner is the subject of this wide-ranging history, the only one of its kind in any language. It traces the growth of the humble Singspiel into a vehicle for the genius of Mozart and Beethoven, together with the persistent attempts at German Grand Opera. The many operas studied are placed in their historical, social and theatrical context, and attention is paid to the literary, artistic and philosophical ideas that made them part of the country's intellectual history.German opera from its primitive origins up to Wagner is the subject of this wide-ranging history, the only one of its kind in any language. It traces the growth of the humble Singspiel into a vehicle for the genius of Mozart and Beethoven, together with the persistent attempts at German Grand Opera. The many operas studied are placed in their historical, social and theatrical context, and attention is paid to the literary, artistic and philosophical ideas that made them part of the country's intellectual history.Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Map: centres of German opera; 1. Sixteenth-century beginnings; 2. The Thirty Years War and its aftermath; 3. The Hamburg enterprise; 4. Travelling troupes and changing attitudes; 5. From the Seven Years War to the French Revolution; 6. The Viennese Singspiel; 7. Mozart's German operas; 8. From the French Revolution l$