FRENCH OPERA LIBRETTI
Volume I
By Nico Castel

This addition to Castel's monumental opera libretti series contains: Werther and Ch?rubin (Massenet); Carmen (Bizet); Samson et Dalila (Saint-Sa?ns); Lakm? (Delibes); Pell?as et M?lisande (Debussy); Don Carlos (Verdi)[French version]; Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach); with the IPA transcriptions; Word-for-Word translations; A guide to the I.P.A.; Notes on the French transcriptions; and a Foreword by Beverly Sills, who states:

"My dear friend, Nico Castel, and I would often sing together in an opera, and each time I would marvel at his expertise in the language in which we were performing. Later, when I became the Director of the New York City Opera I would at times despair at the way young singers tend to sacrifice the value of the text for the sake of volume or pearl-shaped tones. I'm sure that I'm not the only one for whom fledgling dramatic Italian sopranos would audition with ïPooce, pooce' instead of ïPace, pace, mio Dio.' On more than one occasion I advised them to listen to Nico's use of any given word in any given language and to study, if possible, with him in his coaching classes.

The world of music is fortunate that he has undertaken the herculean task of translating and phonetically spelling out each word of the works by Puccini and Verdi „ and with this volume some of the important operas in the French repertoire. His work can be the finishing touch for many a singer. I think that few would dispute that in general the American singer of today is the best trained in the world. The only aspect in which he or she might be at a disadvantage is in the matter of pronunciation. Actually it is more than mere pronunciation. It is in the freedom and imagination with which a singer can play around with the words that true and individual artistry is projected. These books by Nico Castel are of immeasurable help on the road to achieving this."

Volume I contains: Werther and Chérubin (Massenet); Carmen (Bizet); Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns); Lakmé (Delibes); Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy); Don Carlos (Verdi)[French version]; Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach)

Foreword by Beverly Sills

xviii + 701 Pages Hard Cover Linen Binding

ISBN 1-878617-27-3