Opera in Performance: Analyzing the Performative Dimension of Opera Productions

Opera in Performance explores the performative dimension of contemporary opera productions,using phenomenology and performance theory to explain how striking and decisive moments arise from a dialogue between performers and the audience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Opera in Performance delves into the captivating realm of contemporary opera productions, unveiling the performative dimension that shapes these artistic endeavors. It explores the most striking and pivotal moments in a performance, delving into the reasons behind our profound emotional responses to stagings that transform familiar scenes, the captivating presence of performers, and the sheer virtuosity of both exceptional and flawed voices. Drawing upon phenomenology and performance theory, Clemens Risi sheds light on the intricate interplay between performers and the audience, representation and presence, the familiar and the novel. Through critical descriptions of his own experiences at opera houses and festivals across the German-speaking world over the past twenty years, Risi demonstrates how these moments emerge from a dynamic dialogue between artists and spectators.

As the first book to exclusively focus on the intricacies of performance itself, Opera in Performance redirects our attention to moments that have hitherto remained unarticulated. It offers valuable tools for describing our own experiences when attending the opera, enabling us to appreciate the profound impact that these performances have on our senses and emotions. This book holds immense appeal to scholars and students engaged in theater and performance studies, musicology, and the humanities, as well as opera enthusiasts and theater professionals alike.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 233 x 156 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367645052