4 saints in 3 acts

<p><i>Four Saints in Three Acts </i>by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson was a major avant-garde phenomenon of the 1930s an experimental opera that nonetheless achieved remarkable popular success. Photography was a key element of that success but its complex roles in the construction representation and dissemination of the opera have hitherto received little critical attention. The photographic recording of the all-African American cast in particular affords a unique insight into the complexities of <i>Four Saints</i> in relation to the Harlem Renaissance and the New York avant-gardes of the time. <br><br>This book published in collaboration with The Photographers' Gallery London presents a wide selection of photographs of the cast performances and other material - many images reproduced for the first time - alongside essays by an international range of scholars exploring different aspects of the opera including dance fashion music and avant-garde writing as well as photography.</p>