Everything you could possibly know about Verdi and his operas,
from the brilliant and humorous author of Wagner Without
Fear.
If you want to know why La traviata was actually a flop at its
premiere in 1853, it's in here. If you want to know why claiming to
have heard Bjorling's Chicago performance of Il trovatore is the
classic opera fan faux pas, it's in here. Even if you just want to
know how to pronounce Aida, or what the plot of Rigoletto is all
about, this is the place to look. From the composer's intense
hatred of priests to synopses of the operas and a detailed
discography of the best recordings to buy, it can all be found in
Verdi with a Vengeance. William Berger has given another improbable
performance, serving up a book as thorough as it is funny and as
original as it is astute, an utterly indispensable guide for novice
and expert alike.