Opera at the Piano: 74 Favorite Selections from 44 Operas (World's Greatest Classical Music) Review

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(More customer reviews)The full title of this book is Opera at the Piano: 74 Favorite Selections from 45 Operas Transcribed for Intermediate to Advanced Piano Solo.The title is quite accurate in that nearly all of the selections included arewell known "favorite selections."Included are: "CelestaAida" and the "Triumphal March" from AIDA, "Una vocepoco fa" from IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, four selections each from LABOHEME, CARMEN, MAGIC FLUTE and LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, three selections eachfrom DON GIOVANNI, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, MANON LESCAUT, RIGOLETTO, TOSCA, LATRAVIATA, and one or two selections each from: MARTHA, I PAGLIACCI, HANSELUND GRETEL, LOUISE, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, LA RONDINE, SAMSON ET DALILA, IlTROVATORE, etc.As would be implied by any listing of"favorites," the time period covered is basically Mozart throughPuccini, with a few earlier chestnuts thrown in (a couple of selectionsfrom Handel's SERSE and GIULIO CESARE and "When I am laid inearth" from Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS).The book includestranscriptions of instrumental works as well as vocal works -- theIntermezzo from Macagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, the Waltzes from Strauss'DER ROSENKAVALIER, the Mediation from Massanet's THAIS, and overtures toRossini's GUILLAUME TELL and Glinka's RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA. None of the wellknown instrumental music of Wagner is included and his presence in thisvolume is limited to two selections from TANNHAUSER.Included at thebeginning of the book are short paragraph-length synopses of all of theoperas represented which would no doubt be helpful to those unfamiliar withall of the operas represented.The transcriptions are pianistic and workwell at the keyboard. None of the transcribers are identified. The piecesare of medium to advanced difficulty.These are not transcriptions in thesense of the virtuosic Lisztian operatic transcriptions where Liszt wrotenew compositions based on operatic melodies.Instead, these arestraightforward faithful piano transcriptions of works originally writtenfor voice and orchestra. It is unlikely that any of these pieceswould be included on recital programs.I see the main function of thesepieces as giving opera loving pianists hours of pleasure playing throughthem for him/herself and maybe for friends.

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Product Description:
74 of the world's greatest melodies from the timeless works for the stage, transcribed for intermediate- to advanced-level piano solo. Includes highlights from dozens of great works, including Aida, The Barber of Seville, La Boheme, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Faust, Die Fledermaus, Hansel and Gretel, Madama Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto, Der Rosenkavalier, and Tosca.

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