Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème

Cambridge Opera Handbooks

by Arthur Groos, Roger Parker

This guide presents a unique collection of critical, analytical, and documentary essays on Puccini's most popular opera. There are new studies on the background to Parisian bohemianism (by Jerrold Seigel), on Puccini's musical language (by William Drabkin), and on the opera's stage history (by William Ashbrook). Following research in Italian archives, and a thorough study of the published sources (many of them previously unknown to modern scholarship), the editors have added further essays on the genesis of the opera, the structure of the libretto, and aspects of the work's reception. The book also contains a brief study of Puccini's working methods as seen through the autograph score, a full synopsis, discography, many illustrations, and an appendix of related documents (some published in English for the first time).

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Ferhat Culfaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a bit dated, written in the 80's, great overview of the opera. Covers the synopsis, libretto history, the musical passages, critical response and performance histories. Can find excellent bargains for these series used on Amazon. Highly recommend.