Ryan Edwards Biography Geoffrey Edwards Biography Opera Photo Gallery The Verdi Baritone Verdi & Puccini Heroines A.K.A.: DOC	Opera lovers, singer, directors, and critics alike remain fascinated by the dramatic soprano roles created by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. In VERDI AND PUCCINI HEROINES, Geoffrey and Ryan Edwards go beyond inherited scholarly interpretation to gain a richer understanding of these compelling characters, whose complex psychologies and interpersonal relationships provide a powerful and enduring image of humanity. Artistically limited by the bel canto musical conventions of the time, Verdi launched a new style of dramma per musica that demanded a new type of heroine. Exploring text, music, and staging, this book illustrates the evolution of the Verdi and Puccini soprano while revealing the dramatic scope and power of these great female characters. As the authors argue, "Verdi and Puccini heroines illuminate the torment, the ecstasy, and the enduring mysteries of existence. Theirs is a universal quest for meaning amidst the transient shadows of human life. In their spiritual and temporal struggles, in their imperishable hopes and dreams, in their suffering and triumphs, in their very lives and deaths, these women are of all humanity, and for all humanity." Perfect for role preparation, coaching, or pure enjoyment, this book provides detailed character studies of the heroines in IL TROVATORE, LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, AIDA, LA BOHEME, TOSCA, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, and TURANDOT. Each chapter includes a fully self-contained character analysis, along with translations, illustrative musical examples, supplementary notes, and source comparisons. Click below to order this book from Scarecrow Press Click here to read review highlights