Book description
Puccini's obsession with detail ensured the success of La Bohème,
his opera about the impoverished artistes' in Paris in the 1830s.
Soon after its première, people started calling their baby daughters
Mimi. The story of this seamstress, her hectic but fraught love affair
with the poet Rodolfo and her tragic death from consumption
(tuberculosis), never fail to touch the audience. Che gelida manina,
Mi chiamano Mimì , and O soave fanciulla have become some of the most
popular operatic excerpts, sung by stars ranging from Callas to
Gheorghiu, Caruso to Pavarotti. Written by Michael Steen, author of
the acclaimed The Lives and Times of the Great Composers, Short
Guides to Great Operas' are concise, entertaining and easy to read
books about opera. Each is an opera guide packed with useful
information and informed opinion, helping to make you a truly
knowledgeable opera-goer, and so maximising your enjoyment of a great
musical experience. Other Short Guides to Great Operas' that you may
enjoy include Madama Butterfly, Tosca and Turandot.
Michael Steen OBE was born in Dublin, studied at the Royal College
of Music and was organ scholar at Oriel College, Oxford. As well as
pursuing a successful career in the City, he has been chairman of
the Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and of the Royal
College of Music Society, and is Treasurer of The Open University.
Michael saw his first opera in 1960 when he was 15, and was
enchanted. Michael saw his first opera in 1960 when he was 15, and
was enchanted. He now goes to the opera at least once a month, often
much more, and has seen performances all around the world, for
example in Milan, Bayreuth, St, Petersberg, Vienna, Dresden, Moscow,
Sydney, New York, Wexford, Berlin, Budapest, Paris, Cape Town and
many across the UK. His previous books include The Lives and Times
of the Great Composers - described as 'hugely informative and
deliciously gossipy' by the Spectator - and Enchantress of Nations.
His Great Operas - bringing together guides to twenty-five of the
world's finest musical experience - is published by Icon Books in
November 2012.
