When the Fat Lady Sings...Listen!

Opera is a dynamic art form even when performed in concert and more so when staged. Its dynamic quality lies in the composer's use of music and libretto to describe his characters' interaction not physically but rather their psychodynamic relationship between and among them. The composer is a keen and sensitive observer of human behavior and understands its emotional nature at its most basic level; he employs his musical talents to describe drama much as does the novelist or playwright. That is why he sets the music to a narrative or story. He chooses the story and the setting to which he will compose his music. In doing so, the venue becomes an integral part of the opera; the music is composed taking this into serious consideration. Seven operatic masterpieces of Italian Opera are presented to the reader/listener. The interaction of the characters is discussed in psychodynamic terms while using the composer's music/text to illustrate the 3-Dimensional nature of the characters involved. Question: Why does Gilda sacrifice herself to save the duke in Verdi's Rigoletto? Verdi's music and libretto provides the reader an interesting and viable answer. Other questions and answers are presented in the book. They provide the reader with a more comprehensive appreciation of the genius of the opera composer in telling a real human story drama if you will. It is the interpretation of the drama in musical and verbal language not the interpretation of the music that the operatic composer wishes to achieve. The implications for stage production and role interpretation are discussed.