Julian Budden's "The Operas of Verdi" is a three-volume, in-depth study of Verdi's operatic output, tracing his development from his early works to his final opera, Falstaff, and including extensive musical illustrations and analysis.
Here's a more detailed overview:
Scope:
The book covers Verdi's entire operatic career, from his early works like Oberto to his final masterpiece, Falstaff.
Approach:
Budden's analysis is thorough, examining the history, plots, and music of each opera, with a focus on Verdi's stylistic development and the context of his works.
Content:
Volume 1: Focuses on Verdi's early operas, from Oberto to Rigoletto, highlighting the development of his musical style.
Volume 2: Explores the operas written during the post-Rossini period, including Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and La Forza del Destino, examining Verdi's engagement with the Parisian grand opera tradition.
Volume 3: Covers the period of cosmopolitan influences and the rise of "verismo," including Verdi's last and greatest operas, Don Carlos, Aida, Otello, and Falstaff.
Significance:
Budden's work is considered a seminal study of Verdi's operas, providing valuable insights into the composer's life, music, and the operatic world in which he worked.
Author:
Julian Budden (1924–2007) was a British opera scholar, radio producer, and broadcaster.
Publication:
The book was published in three volumes in 1973, 1978, and 1981 by Cassell & Company Ltd., London, and by Praeger Publishers, Inc., New York, and later by Oxford University Press.