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Handel's Bestiary

Handel's Bestiary

by Donna Leon (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2011

    $16.42
Synopsis

When Donna Leon, the acclaimed author of the best-selling Commissario Guido Brunetti series, is not conjuring up tales of crime and corruption in Venice, she is listening to opera. Over the years, Leon has noticed that her favourite composer, George Frideric Handel, filled his operas with arias that make reference to animals; rich in symbolism, the perceived virtues and vices of the lion, bee, nightingale, snake, elephant, and tiger, among others, resonate in his works. In Handel's Bestiary, Leon draws on her love of Handel and her expertise in medieval bestiaries-illustrated collections of animal stories-to assemble a bestiary of her own. Twelve chapters trace twelve animals through history, mythology, and the arias. Each is joined by whimsical original illustrations by German painter Michael Sowa. The accompanying CD includes each aria, expertly recorded by Il Complesso Barocco, Karina Gauvin, Ann Hallenberg, Paul Agnew, and Anicio Zorzi, with Alan Curtis conducting. Fascinating and utterly original, Handel's Bestiary springs to life with Leon's knowledge and wit.

$16.42

Save:$5.00 (23%)

Quantity

1 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 144
 Publisher: William Heinemann
Published: 05 May 2011
ISBN 10: 0434021520
ISBN 13: 9780434021529
Book Overview: A literary, visual, and musical celebration of Handel's arias by acclaimed author Donna Leon

Media Reviews
International Praise for Handel's Bestiary A wonderful book. A compendium colorfully illustrated by Michael Sowa, to be enjoyed not only by musical connoisseurs. -- Der Spiegel (Germany) What Leon tells us is a real joy, and many of the details are unfamiliar. If as you read you listen to the music by Il Complesso Barocco that accompanies it, you are in for a sensual treat - and one which will also broaden your horizons. -- Stern (Germany) The book, wittily illustrated by Michael Sowa, is accompanied by a CD of arias recorded by Il Complesso Barocco. A real tour de force! -- News (Austria) As an expert on medieval bestiaries - moral lessons and fables about animals - she cleverly describes how Handel portrays specific characteristics of these animals in his music. Naturally a CD with all twelve animal arias is included - musical fun, with enchanting pictures by the German painter and illustrator Michael Sowa. -- Hamburger Abendblatt (Germany)
Author Bio
Donna Leon was named by The Times as one of the 50 Greatest Crime Writers. She is an award-winning crime novelist, celebrated for the bestselling Brunetti series. Donna has lived in Venice for thirty years and previously lived in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iran and China, where she worked as a teacher. Donna's books have been translated into 35 languages and have been published around the world. Her previous novels featuring Commissario Brunetti have all been highly acclaimed; including Friends in High Places, which won the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction, Fatal Remedies, Doctored Evidence, A Sea of Troubles and Beastly Things.