Opera Acts

Opera Acts Explores A Wealth Of New Historical Material About Singers In The Late Nineteenth Century And Challenges The Idea That This Was A Period Of Decline For The Opera Singer. In Detailed Case Studies Of Four Figures - The Late Verdi Baritone Victor Maurel; Bizet''S First Carmen Clestine Galli-Mari; Massenet''S Muse Of The 1880S And 1890S Sibyl Sanderson; And The Early Wagner Star Jean De Reszke - Karen Henson Argues That Singers In The Late Nineteenth Century Continued To Be Important But In Ways That Were Not Conventionally ''Vocal''. Instead They Enjoyed A Freedom And Creativity Based On Their Ability To Express Text Act And Communicate Physically And Exploit The Era''S Media. By These And Other Means Singers Played A Crucial Role In The Creation Of Opera Up To The End Of The Nineteenth Century.