French Opera at the Fin De Si}}cle [Paperback]

This is the first book-length study of the rich operatic repertory written and performed in France during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. Steven Huebner gives an accessible and colorful account of such operatic favorites asManonandWertherby Massenet,Louiseby Charpentier, and lesser-known gems such as Chabrier'sLe Roi malgr? luiand Chausson'sLe Roi Arthus.

The variety of Huebner's findings and the sensitivity with which he addresses familiar argument in the light of new material make this book of great value to anyone interested in fin-de-siecle culture. It is so timely. Huebner makes a sensible case for his introduction, and more importantly, applies the basic methodological choice in the analytical framework with refreshing flexibility. Huebner demonstrates brilliantly the importance of the French negotiation of Wagner and the variety of solutions reached. --Journal of the American Musicological Society.