Three Mozart Libretti: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte, Complete in Italian and English by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


Three Mozart Libretti: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte, Complete in Italian and English
Title : Three Mozart Libretti: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte, Complete in Italian and English
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0486277267
ISBN-10 : 9780486277264
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 320
Publication : First published November 5, 2013

Mozart composed three of his greatest operas in collaboration with the librettist Lorenzo da Ponte. The librettos of these brilliant works are presented here in a format opera enthusiasts will love: excellent line-for-line English translations on pages facing the Italian text. The translators have attempted to present the three operas "as readably and as dramatically as possible, finding the natural or colloquial English phrase" to convey the essential spirit of each work.
The result is a handy, readable reference ideal for following a recorded performance or to refresh one's memory before or after a live performance. Introductions, plot synopses, and lists of characters for each opera complete this indispensable companion for any opera-goer or lover of Mozart's music.

Three Mozart Libretti: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte, Complete in Italian and English Reviews

  • Nullifidian

    Despite claiming to be "complete in Italian and English", this is actually quite incomplete as anyone listening to a full recording of Don Giovanni or Così fan tutte while attempting to use this book for its intended purpose will be able to attest. Only Le nozze di Figaro appears to be complete. And they don't just cut recitative, which is bad enough from the perspective of following the opera, but even arias! For example, in the second act of Così, they cut Ferrando's aria "Ah, lo veggio, quell'anima bella", which should be the missing number 24 between 23's "Il core vi dono" (pp. 280-3) and 25's "Per pietà, ben mio, perdona" (pp. 284-5).

    Where the translation actually exists for the text of the libretto, it's frequently quite insipid. For example, in Act I of Le nozze di Figaro when Susanna is attempting to keep Cherubino and the Count concealed from each other, her heart cry "Ah, crude stelle!" ("Ah, cruel stars!") is rendered as "Good Lord!".

    On the whole, you're better off looking up libretti of these operas online. I'm conceding one star for having the complete text of the opera for one of the operas, but it doesn't deserve more.

  • Erik Rostad

    So fun seeing the Italian and English side by side. I listened to the opera while reading the Italian.