Search - Thomson Smillie :: Opera Explained: An Introduction to Rossini's "The Barber of Seville"

A terrific introduction to a classic

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 08/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, what is this item doing under Popular music? But barring that, on with the review. Of all the recordings that profess to be an "Introduction to Opera," those from the Metropolitan Opera Guild have led the pack. Unfortunately, many of them are no longer available; and so it is a Good Thing that mighty Naxos has introduced a new series called "Opera Explained." The first two entries are "An Introduction to THE BARBER OF SEVILLE" (8.558008) and "An Introduction to AIDA" (8.558009). Both are written by Thomson Smillie and narrated by actor David Timson. The discussions begin with a long introduction to the composer and the times in which the work was composed, and then goes on to tell the story using highlights from Naxos recordings of the work. What is important, however, is that each song is analyzed both dramatically and musically. For example, Smillie's main thesis is that "Aida" is really a chamber opera (with a circus in the middle) so that he emphasizes the human element in the duets, while not forgetting the political themes that form the background. I am not sure if references to Miss Piggy and other modern personalities and events do not slightly dumb down the arguments, but they are rare and do raise a smile. The target audience is obviously the educated adult, not the television-addicted child. Yet, the latter might certainly find much of what is on these CDs of interest. Teachers, take note."