Tosca - English National Opera Guide 16 (includes libretto)

Tosca, one of Puccini's greatest and most popular operas, is a supreme example of music's power to enthral the audience

In his introductory essay to this guide, Bernard Williams discusses the enduring quality of its appeal

'The maximum effect with the simplest means' could be Puccini's motto, suggests Bernard Keeffe who analyses different aspects of the score, noting Puccini's special genius for orchestration and the subtle effects that give the opera its irresistible vitality

Stuart Woolf's survey of the historical background reveals its political and nationalistic undertones

Enriched by twenty-five archive photographs, a detailed thematic analysis, the original libretto with the facing literal translation and a section containing up-to-date discographical and bibliographical information, this guide will prove an invaluable companion for opera-goers and anyone wanting to delve deeper into the genesis, history and significance of Puccini's work

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