San Antonio College Library

Henrik Schwarz talks about his album, Instruments.

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Using the principal themes and arias, taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work, Thomson Smillie is informative yet entertaining, enabling the listener to get more from this remarkable art form. Verdi's Falstaff repays careful study with real pleasure. It is opera's happiest irony that the great Italian master should cap a career -- distinguished for...

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. This volume contains biographical information on Bellini followed by an analysis of La somnambula broken down into sections.

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Using the principal themes and arias, taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work, Thomson Smillie is informative yet entertaining, enabling the listener to get more from this remarkable art form.

Monteverdi's Orfeo, first performed in 1607, generates a special excitement because it is the first unquestioned masterpiece of opera. Notable for its precise orchestration and powerful drama it was a groundbreaking work. It concerns the legend of Orpheus, the demi-god whose music had the power to conquer the forces of Hell and to bring his wife back, briefly, to life. The extracts used in this introduction are from Naxos's full recording; it uses...

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Using the principal themes and arias, taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work, Thomson Smillie is informative yet entertaining, enabling the listener to get more from this remarkable art form.

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Here Smillie discusses Wagner and several of his other works followed by an analysis of The flying Dutchman broken down into sections.

In this program, host Natalie Choquette informs viewers that no opera is more popular than Bizet's Carmen. Its music is instantly recognizable, whether in concert or on television commercials. And yet Carmen was not a success at its premiere, nor did Bizet ever see his creation. In fact, due to the amount of ankle shown, the opera was actually considered scandalous!

In this program, host Natalie Choquette explains that Tosca is one of the few operas about an opera singer. It's also one of the most violent, erotic, melodramatic works in the operatic repertoire (which no doubt explains its popularity!), and today this timeless masterpiece is even more convincing than many a reality TV show. No opera needs a diva in the title role more than Tosca, and many star sopranos have been associated with that part.

"What is the most romantic story in history: Romeo and Juliet, or Mayerling, or perhaps La Dame aux Camélias? Well for many, Alexandre Dumas' story La Dame aux Camélias is by far the most moving and tragic love story ever told," says host Natalie Choquette in this program. "The composer Giuseppe Verdi thought so too; his operatic adaptation of the book is perhaps the most popular opera in the repertoire: La Traviata!"