Debussy's Mélisande: The Lives of Georgette Leblanc, Mary Garden and Maggie Teyte
Product Details
- Hardcover: 392 pages
- Publisher: Boydell Press (21 May 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1843834596
- ISBN-13: 978-1843834595
- Product Dimensions: 15.7 x 3.6 x 23.6 cm
Review Georgette Leblanc, Mary Garden, and Maggie Teyte...brought to life Mélisande, the mysterious princess, and lived full lives themselves. And, thanks to Opstad's work, they come to life for readers in the book Debussy's Mélisande. FRENCH REVIEW Opstad succeeds (...) in conveying the tumult of theatrical life in the first half of the twentieth century, on both sides of the Atlantic, and we hear clearly the babble of competing egos, the insidious murmur of gossip, and the familiar strains of prejudice. MUSIC & LETTERS Debussy's Mélisande provides a well-researched presentation of the lives of Georgette Leblanc, Mary Garden and Maggie Teyte (...) the personalities (...) seem to come to life and there is a real link between the three singers because of the circumstances surrounding the role of Mélisande. THE OSCHOLARS This eloquent book.intelligently organised.(and) full of fascinating incidents. TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT (Robert Orledge)Engaging and wonderfully written. (...) Gives the reader insights into not only the evolution of the opera and the important figures involved in its production but also the intrigue with developing technology of the day, such as radio, film, and audio recordings. Recommended. CHOICEThe interweaving of each singer's story makes for a fascinating read...Opstad manages the complex weave with ease...There are plenty of insights into what each singer brought to this famous role in terms of vocal, dramatic and visual qualities...there is an excellent selection of photographs. CLASSICAL MUSIC (Editor's Choice)As someone who has been puzzling over what this work "means" for some 50 years, I learnt a lot from this book and shall be returning to it regularly. BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (Roger Nichols) Opstad's book will be fascinating for anyone interested in early twentieth century opera or the life and music of Debussy...(she) has uncovered many little-known facts about all the personalities involved. LITERARY REVIEW A brilliant success...Opstad's research is wide-ranging and exemplary. She tells a fascinating, moving and complex story superbly. Not least, her footnotes, handily on each relevant page, are models of clarity and concision. And her text is refreshingly free of the sort of musicological mumbo-jumbo that disfigures so many new books on interesting musical matters. WWW.OPERA-BRITANNIA.COM About the Author Gillian Opstad read Modern Languages at Somerville College, Oxford after which she taught for a number of years in Buckinghamshire and Bristol. She has been actively involved with music both at university and since. This, her first book, is a result of her particular interest in French music, especially that of Debussy.
