Contemporary Opera in Flux
Contemporary Opera in Flux
edited by Yayoi U Everett
University of Michigan Press, 2024
ISBNs
Cloth: 978-0-472-07626-0
Paper: 978-0-472-05626-2
eISBN: 978-0-472-90358-0 (OA)
About the Book
In twelve essays, Contemporary Opera in Flux discusses a series of shifts that, taken together, have radically redefined the production and reception of opera. Focusing on productions involving late twentieth- and twenty-first century scores and libretti, the contributors draw on conversations with members of creative teams and studies of archival material, dipping into a historical record that remains in flux as composers, librettists, directors, and designers revisit existing work and create anew. The contributors to this volume push the boundaries of contemporary opera scholarship by examining works that disrupt operatic conventions; tackle sociopolitical issues such as drug trafficking, racial injustice, and cultural trauma; and advance underrepresented works by female, African-American, Asian, and avant-garde composers around the globe.
Contemporary Opera in Flux bridges the gaps between expanding literature on opera, theater, new music, postmodern dramaturgy, and posthuman aesthetics, while also confronting larger questions of identity, representation, and narrative agency that are at the forefront of contemporary music scholarship. This collection of essays engages critically with the past out of a conviction that, amid general public perceptions of opera as anachronistic or elitist, contemporary opera has emerged as an artistic incubator for experimentation.
Contemporary Opera in Flux bridges the gaps between expanding literature on opera, theater, new music, postmodern dramaturgy, and posthuman aesthetics, while also confronting larger questions of identity, representation, and narrative agency that are at the forefront of contemporary music scholarship. This collection of essays engages critically with the past out of a conviction that, amid general public perceptions of opera as anachronistic or elitist, contemporary opera has emerged as an artistic incubator for experimentation.
About the Author
Yayoi U. Everett is a Professor of Music at CUNY Hunter College and the Graduate Center.
Reviews
"A masterpiece of collective scholarship, Contemporary Opera in Flux is unique, erudite, insightful, and thought-provoking--and an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Opera Music History Contemporary Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies."— Midwest Book Review
"In all, Contemporary Opera in Flux demonstrates significant scholarly consensus on a remarkable breadth of musical and dramatic experiments and the interdisciplinary richness necessary
to make sense of them."
“Contemporary Opera in Flux is a pioneering study of multifaceted aspects of late-20th- and 21st-century opera. It explores such cutting-edge topics as vocality beyond human voice; influences of virtual reality and digital media on opera during the pandemic era and beyond; multicultural activism in the wake of the ‘post-George Floyd era’; and the elusive corporeal reality of human bodies saturated by media representations. Versatile topics and virtuosic quality of this collection will be a landmark in the scholarship on the interdisciplinary studies of contemporary opera. Furthermore, its writing style in many chapters is not too erudite that it will be stimulating to the general public.”— Jeongwon Joe, University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music
“If I were asked to describe the strengths of Contemporary Opera in Flux in a single word, I would volunteer ‘inclusive.’ The volume brings together a diverse range of recent operas, some well-known, some unfamiliar. In so doing, it demonstrates that contemporary opera is centrally concerned with urgent issues involving sexuality, race, nationality, and the environment.”— Arman Schwartz, University of Notre Dame
"Contemporary Opera in Flux serves as a significant contribution to the understanding of contemporary opera, making it indispensable reading for opera enthusiasts, scholars, students, and critics. Its analytical yet engaging tone invites readers to explore the fluidity of the genre, thus fostering a deeper appreciation for its evolving nature in the modern cultural landscape. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates through faculty; professionals."— Choice
Tags
Theater, Genres & Styles, Media Studies, 21st century, Music, Political aspects, History & Criticism, Performing Arts, 20th century, Social Science, History
Open Access Information
License: CC BY-NC
Loading...