{"product_id":"2026100010490-secondhand-stories-of-the-great-operas-their-composers","title":"Stories Of The Great Operas \u0026 Their Composers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good\u003cbr\u003eJacket: Worn\/faded, no tears\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good\u003cbr\u003eMarkings: Previous owner\u003cbr\u003eCondition remarks: stained book block\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the thunderous drama of Verdi to the mythic grandeur of Wagner, Stories of the Great Operas \u0026amp; Their Composers presents one of the most authoritative and captivating guides to the operatic canon ever written. Ernest Newman, widely regarded as one of the foremost music critics of the twentieth century, chronicles the plots, passions, and intrigues of the world's most celebrated operas, weaving each narrative synopsis together with rich biographical portraits of the composers who brought them to life. The result is an indispensable compendium for both the devoted opera enthusiast and the curious newcomer, illuminating the stage action and the human stories behind the music with equal brilliance.\n\nNewman's prose is at once scholarly and warmly accessible, carrying the reader effortlessly through centuries of operatic history with the confidence of a seasoned expert and the eloquence of a born storyteller. Best known for his monumental four-volume biography of Wagner, Newman brings that same forensic dedication and passion to this sweeping survey, arguing implicitly that great opera is inseparable from the genius — and the torment — of the composers who created it. Each entry stands as a masterclass in musical appreciation, leaving the reader with an irresistible urge to rush to the nearest performance and hear these immortal works anew.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50736274702555,"sku":"2026100010490-SECONDHAND","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/8462c5ed-5f41-4fdf-9657-237f671ccc8a.png?v=1792122725","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100010490-secondhand-stories-of-the-great-operas-their-composers","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}