Drawing the Curtain: Maurice Sendak's Designs for Opera and Ballet

Maurice Sendak, a renowned children's book author, also created set designs for operas and ballets. This book showcases over one hundred and twenty-five pieces from the Morgan Library & Museum's collection, including preliminary sketches, final watercolors, and cardboard models. Essays discuss Sendak's inspiration from music, comic strips, movies, mechanical toys, and pop-up books, and his ability to tell striking stories through his art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2019
Publisher: Prestel

Maurice Sendak, the acclaimed author of children's books, possessed a lesser-known passion for opera and ballet. He created stunning set designs for numerous productions, including Mozart's The Magic Flute, Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen, Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and an opera by Oliver Knussen based on Where the Wild Things Are. This captivating book showcases over one hundred and twenty-five pieces from the Morgan Library & Museum's extensive collection, encompassing preliminary sketches, final watercolors, and cardboard models. Essays within the book delve into the profound influence of music on Sendak's artistic endeavors, his fascination with comic strips, movies, mechanical toys, and pop-up books, and the artworks that inspired his stage designs. The book unveils the comprehensive range of Sendak's visual work for opera and ballet, highlighting his keen sense of humor, deep appreciation for art history, and remarkable ability to convey compelling stories through his art.

Weight: 1566g
Dimension: 299 x 255 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791358550