Opera: Libretto Studies
For catalogues of libretti see #212ff.
- Freeman, Robert S. Opera without Drama: Currents of Change in Italian
Opera, 1675 to 1725. Studies in Musicology, 35. Ann Arbor, Mich.: UMI
Research, 1981. xii, 347p. ISBN 0-8357-1152-8. ML1733 .F73.
Examines changes in the opera libretti before and during the reform period of
Zeno and Metastasio. Contemporary writing about opera is carefully evalu-
ated, along with the texts themselves; Zeno gets special attention. Full docu-
mentation and bibliography. - Hoffmann, Andreas. Tugendhafte Helden—Lasterhafte Tyrannen: Italienische
Oper am Ende des siebzehnten Jahrhunderts.Bonn: Orpheus, 1996. 406p.
ISBN 3-922626-83-1. ML1733.2 .H644.
The title (Virtuous heroes, wicked tyrants) hardly suggests the wide scope of
this important volume. It deals with Venetian libretti on war themes, offering
the best sourcebook on the topic. Material considered and documented
includes instruments, arias, tonality, rhythm, recitative, and theaters. A list of
about 250 singers with their roles and venues includes writings about them.
About 1,600 arias are listed, with their sources. Other lists cover impresarios,
ingegnieri,stage designers, costumers, ballets, and works performed by city.
Footnotes, extensive musical examples, chronology for 1682–1745, bibliogra-
phy of about 150 items, index. - Sartori, Claudio. I libretti italiani a stampa dalle origini al 1800: Catalogo
analitico.Cuneo: Bertola & Locatelli, 1990–1994. 6v. in 7. No ISBN. ML136
.S270.
Preface in Italian and English. A valuable inventory of 25,437 libretti, with full
bibliographic descriptions and library locations. Indexes by place, author,
composer, impresario, scene designer, architect, choreographer, costumer,
machinists, instrumentalists, singers and roles—insofar as these facts appear in
the libretti. Using the city index, one has a chronological performance history
in each town, mostly in Italy, but also in other countries. - Goldin, Daniela. “Aspetti della librettistica italiana fra 1770 e 1830.”
Analecta musicologica21 (1982): 128–191.
Examines trends and techniques of the period, through study of individual
authors (Metastasio, Calzabigi, Goldoni, Bertati) and genres. Both buffaand
seriatexts are analyzed.
Opera: Theaters
- Bustico, Guido. Bibliografia delle storie e cronistorie dei teatri italiani: Il teatro
musicale italiano.Milan: Bollettino Bibliografico Musicale, 1929. 83p. Z2354
.D8 B9.
A list of books and articles, with some annotations, on theater in the country
and by city.
454 Opera