Nicholas John Libros

A companion volume offering essays, surveys and summaries to inform and enlighten.

The English National Opera Guides were originally conceived in partnership with the English National Opera and edited by Nicholas John, the ENO's dramaturg, who died tragically in an accident in the Alps. Most of the guides are devoted to a single opera, which is described in detail—with many articles that cover its history and information about the composer and his times. The complete libretto is included in both the original language and in a modern singing translation—except where the opera was written in English. Each has a thematic guide to the most important musical themes in musical notation and each guide is lavishly illustrated. They also contain a bibliography and a discography which is updated at each reprint. The ENO guides are widely regarded as the best series of their kind and excellent value.

Puccini's opera "Tosca" is based on a play by Victorien Sardou, which the composer saw in Milan with the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt. The story is partly set during the time of Napoleon and revolves around the tragedy of the renowned singer Floria Tosca. After much effort, Puccini secured Sardou's approval for an opera based on this narrative, leading to the premiere of "Tosca" in Rome in 1900, which was a resounding success for the composer. The text juxtaposes the Italian libretto with a widely used German translation, providing insights into the musical and dramatic elements of the opera, including compositional structure and thematic connections. A brief summary of the plot, an overview of its creation, and discussions of the themes and story place the work within the broader context of the composer's oeuvre and biography, offering a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction.