This comprehensive guide charts the genesis of Idomeneo, based on the composer's own accounts in his letters home.

Mozart wrote Idomeneo when he was twenty-four years old, and the opera was described by Albert Einstein as "e;one of those works that even a genius like Mozart could write only once in his life"e;. It is one of most astonishing achievements of an altogether astonishing career.In this newly commissioned guide, Julian Rushton explains the special nature of the music in a detailed analysis of its themes and development, while Nicholas Till places the opera in its context as an expression of the Enlightenment. Gary Kahn explores the performance history of an opera which, although largely ignored for over a hundred and fifty years, has now taken its place as part of the international operatic repertoire. A selection of the unique letters between Mozart and his father written during the opera's composition is also included.Contains:Idomeneo and the Background of the Enlightenment, Nicholas TillIdomeneo, re di Creta, the Music, Julian RushtonA Brief Performance History, Gary KahnThe Composition of Idomeneo in Mozart's LettersIdomeneo: Libretto by Giambattista VarescoIdomeneo: English Translation by Charles Johnston

A study of Mozart's Don Giovanni, one of the best known and most often performed opears of the last 200 years.

This is the first book by an experienced conductor to explore the orchestras contribution to Mozarts greatest operatic works: Idomeneo, Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Die Schauspieldirektor, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, La clemenza di Tito, and Die Zauberflote. It is written for the concert and opera going public who are interested in enlarging their knowledge and appreciation of these masterpieces, but also contains many practical suggestions for aspiring conductors.

Focusing on operatic criticism, this work is of interest to students and lovers of opera.

The 1882 three-volume English translation of the 1867 second edition of a landmark biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91).

First Published in 1990. Information about individual operas and other types of musical theater is scattered throughout the enormous literature of music. This book is an effort to bring that data together by comprehensively indexing plots and descriptions of individual operatic background, criticism and analysis, musical themes and bibliographical references. The principal audience for this general reference guide will be for the non-specialist, but its hoped that persons specialising in opera would also find it useful.