About the Author

Ellen Rosand is George A. Saden Professor of Music at Yale and author of Monteverdi's Last Operas: A Venetian Trilogy

Reviews

Opera was new in the 17th century, and Venice provided the environment in which it was to develop and flourish. Rosand (music, Rutgers Univ.) builds on the work of previous scholars to explore the role Venice played during this era in the development of a fledgling artform. Her work is rich with information on the entire operatic scene. The conventions opera fans take for granted today, such as plot elements and prima donnas, were developed during this vital period. More than 200 pages of hard-to-find musical examples, along with illustrations reproduced from 17th - century materials found in Venetian libraries, provide ample rewards for music scholars. This fascinating analysis is recommended for in-depth opera history collections.-- James E. Ross, Seattle P.L.