Weep, Shudder, Die is an insightful and accessible guide to the grand art of opera for both new and longtime fans.

For too long opera was relegated to high society and perceived as stuffy and remote. But now that has changed. A new generation of opera lovers has emerged, inviting a wave of extraordinary new productions and revivals the world over.

Robert Levine has written an illuminating guide for this growing audience. With his signature wit, he examines the most famous composers and operas, from Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen to Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, giving a se... read more>>>

Opera is a highly dramatic portrayal of every facet of human life, visually acted out on a scenic stage, sung and surrounded by magnificent orchestral instrumental sound which has an inexplicable effect on our central nervous system.

We are emotionally charged by the above described combination to varying pitches and crescendos and climaxes. The vocalization of the story on stage is completely uninhibited, as outpourings of: I hate you, I love you, crying and laughing, are all completely fresh, candid and true. We on the other hand are rigid, concealed
5 9781597802826$"What would Kurt Russell do?"

Oxford police detective Art... read more>>>