Aspects of Verdi

Rejoicing in Verdi's vitality, patriotism, imagination and insistence on privacy, but above all in his musical genius, a noted American musicologist mines Verdi's letters for new information and insights. These essays, seven on the composer's political, religious, literary and culinary interests, and five on his compositional concerns, vary in length, depth and intensity. They range from Verdi's connections with Manzoni and Shakespeare, the delicacy of his orchestration and the significance of Franz Werfel's Verdi: A Novel of the Opera in advancing a Verdi revival to an essay on the composer's favorite foods and restaurants. Martin also publishes for the first time several Verdi letters as well as two short compositions that he believes were written by him. A feast for specialists and advanced students. Illustrations not seen by PW. (March)