W. A. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro [Paperback]

This opera handbook examines Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro from historical and musical perspectives.This analysis of the opera, as well as its social, cultural and musical context, progresses to an exploration of the comic possibilities of the classical style and opera buffa in the 1770s and 1780s.This analysis of the opera, as well as its social, cultural and musical context, progresses to an exploration of the comic possibilities of the classical style and opera buffa in the 1770s and 1780s.Le nozze di Figaro (1786) was Mozart's first mature opera buffa. It was also the first of his three major collaborations with the librettist Lorenzo da Ponte. Unlike Don Giovanni (1787) and Cos? fan tutte (1790), Figaro has few obvious problems, and even if it is not without flaws, it nevertheless contains a remarkable mixture of all those elements that go to produce a good opera: a sound plot, a well-structured text and fine music. This opera handbook examines the work from historical and musical perspectives, to set it in the context of Mozart's age.1. Introduction; 2. Mozart and the opera buffa tradition Michael F. Robinson; 3. Beaumarchais, da Ponte and Mozart: from play to opera; 4. Synopsis; 5. Verse and music in Le nozze di Figaro; 6. Opera buffa and the Classical style: the Act I trio; 7. Music and drama in Le nozze di Figaro; 8. Le nozze di Figaro: a brief performance history; Notes; Select bibliography; Discography Malcolm Walker. ...an outstanding and substantive discussion of Da Ponte's role in creating the libretto of Figaro...The synopsis of the plot includes significant musical factors, although not at the expense of an engaging narrative flow. James P. Fairleigh, Notes