The opera Les troubadourswas written for the marriage of Napoleon and
Marie-Louise in 1810, but was not performed. There was a delay in comple-
tion of the work, and by the time it was ready, Napoleon had decided against
further festivities. The music is thoroughly described, along with the curious
background events.Four operas are in ERO: Euphrosine et Coradin,v.38; Ariodante,v.39; Uthal,v.40;
and Joseph,v.41. Two others are in FO: Stratonice,v.72, and Mélidore et Phrosine,
v.73.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
- Schünemann, Georg. “Mendelssohns Jugendopern.” ZfM 5 (1922–1923):
506–545.
Covers Die wandernden Komödianten, Die beiden Pädagogen, Die Soldaten-
liebschaft, and Die beiden Neffen,along with three scenes from an incomplete
Lustspiel. Technical comments with extended musical examples. - Warrack, John. “Mendelssohn’s Operas.” In Music and Theatre(#68), 263–
Genesis, program notes, and reception of the operas, with footnotes to sources
and the slight secondary literature. The composer’s gifts “matured too early
for him... to adapt them to novel forms and ideas”—so his youthful works
were in Singspielform, and he did not succeed in the new romantic genres.
Gian Carlo Menotti (1911–)
- Grieb, Lyndal. The Operas of Gian Carlo Menotti, 1937–1972: A Selective
Bibliography.Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1974. 193p. ISBN 0-8108-0743-2.
ML134 .M533 G7.
A useful annotated list of more than 1,000 writings about Menotti, including
books, articles, dissertations, and newspaper notices. Also a biographical
sketch and worklist, with premiere data and editions. Name index. - Marriott, Richard John. “Gian Carlo Menotti: Total Musical Theatre; A Study
of His Operas.” Ph.D. diss., U. of Illinois, 1975. 274p. - Ardoin, John. The Stages of Menotti.Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1985.
255p. ISBN 0-385-14938-7. ML410 .M52 A85.
A well-illustrated gathering of detailed program notes and synopses of all the
operas. Interviews with the composer illuminate the discussions. Chronology,
discography, bibliography, and expansive index of names, titles, and topics. - Wlaschin, Ken. Gian Carlo Menotti on Screen: Opera, Dance, and Choral
Works on Film, Television, and Video. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1999.
186p. ISBN 0-7864-0608-9. ML410 .M52 W6.
A useful list of visuals. The Telephonehas had 14 screen versions and has been
telecast in 10 countries; The Mediumhas had 14 screen versions. Index of
titles and artists, bibliography of about 150 items.
Gian Carlo Menotti 227