WHEN THE FAT LADY SINGS: Opera History As It Ought To Be Taught

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Way To Learn Opera!!
Review: I am a music major at college and study opera intensivly. There are some really boring books on the subject, but When The Fat Lady Sings is NOT one of them! All of the facts were there and were presented in a way that kept my attention. I would reccomend this book to the music student looking to brush up on composers, to the people who want to know a little more about what opera is, and to the person who wants something interesting to say at a cocktail party. Anyone can learn something from this book with or without music knowledge. I didn't think a book could be written about opera that is both true to the subject AND funny. Well done Mr. Barber!

Rating:
Summary: Hillariosly True stories of composers
Review: I bought this book after I had been in "Carmen". Mr. Barber brings out a funny story in operas that are meant to be sad, romantic, and makes the comical ones even more laughable. I reccommend this book to all lovers of opera

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I loved this book. It's funny and cute! I did never know Wagner loved pink silk underwears... It's the best book to read if you are not an opera lover, and have to get the information...

Rating:
Summary: Too Funny
Review: The subtitle of this book is "Opera History As It Ought To Be Taught," so, while I expected some humor, I also expected more substance. Barber may get all of his facts straight, but there are more jokes than facts. Reading this book is like hearing a comedian tell a hundred one-liners in an hour; they may be funny one-liners, but the funny bone goes numb. I gave it three stars because this book may be useful for those who want an easy introduction to opera but know nothing about it or the composers.

Rating:
Summary: Too Funny
Review: The subtitle of this book is "Opera History As It Ought To Be Taught," so, while I expected some humor, I also expected more substance. Barber may get all of his facts straight, but there are more jokes than facts. Reading this book is like hearing a comedian tell a hundred one-liners in an hour; they may be funny one-liners, but the funny bone goes numb. I gave it three stars because this book may be useful for those who want an easy introduction to opera but know nothing about it or the composers.

Rating:
Summary: Great Intro to Opera History
Review: This book tells all the fun stuff that you don't usually hear about opera composers along with a sturdy structure of opera history. Easy to read and intensely funny, this book's only weakness is that it misses a lot of important composers and concentrates on a couple of unimportant ones. Thus, the reader is left with a feeling like the author got tired of writing and stopped halfway through. If the author added enough information for this book to be more comprehensive representation of opera history, it would a wonderful book for both opera experts and opera neophytes.