Alfredo Catalani (1854–1893)
- Gatti, Carlo. Alfredo Catalani, la vita e le opere. Milan: Garzanti, 1953. 250p.
ML410 .C37 G3.
A life story, with program notes on the operas.
See also Nicolaisen (#2466).
Pier Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676)
- Glover, Jane. Cavalli. London: Batsford, 1978. 191p. ISBN 0-71341-0078.
ML410 .C37 G56.
A fine synthesis of what is known about the composer, whose operas were per-
formed more than those of anyone else during his era. Biographical data are
included, but operas are the main focus. Backnotes, musical examples, refer-
ences to earlier scholarship. Bibliography has about 300 entries. List of all the
operas, with dates, premieres, manuscript locations, and comments. Excellent
index of names, titles, and topics.
Two older works remain useful for their detailed treatments:
- Wellesz, Egon. “Cavalli und der Stil der venezianischen Oper von 1640–
1660.” Studien zur Musikwissenschaft1 (1913): 1–103.
Extended excerpts in score, with perceptive structural analyses; consideration
of choral writing, instrumentation, and aria style. Notes; no index. - Prunières, Henry. Cavalli et l’opéra vénetien au XVIIe siècle.Paris: Rieder,
- 120p. ML410 .C3913 P7.
A scholarly discussion of the period and of Cavalli’s works, a few footnotes,
extended musical examples, 40 pictures of scenes from productions. Bibliogra-
phy of about 30 entries, no index. - Clinkscale, Martha Novak. “Pier Francesco Cavalli’s Xerse.” Ph.D. diss., U. of
Minnesota, 1970. 2v.
In v.2 there is a modern edition of the complete opera. - Rosand, Ellen. “Aria in the Early Operas of Francesco Cavalli.” Ph.D. diss.,
New York U., 1971. x, 390p. - Rosand, Ellen. “Aria as Drama in the Early Operas of Francesco Cavalli.” In
Muraro (#2575), 75–96.
Shows “how Cavalli resolved the aria paradox by actually using arias per se
(as closed forms) to develop, enhance, and define his musical dramas.” For
example, Daphne’s aria in Apollointerprets her search for new modes of
expression “by the sheer variety of its strophes” and her increased agitation by
“gradual loss of patterns.” - Rosand, Ellen. “Comic Contrast and Dramatic Continuity: Observations on
the Form and Function of Aria in the Operas of Francesco Cavalli.” MR 37
(1976): 92–105.
Pier Francesco Cavalli 141