Everything you could possibly know about Verdi and his operas, from the brilliant and humorous author of Wagner Without Fear. If you want to know why La traviata was actually a flop at its premiere in 1853, it's in here. If you want to know why claiming to have heard Bjorling's Chicago performance of Il trovatore is the classic opera fan faux pas, it's in here. Even if you just want to know how to pronounce Aida, or what the plot of Rigoletto is all about, this is the place to look. From the composer's intense hatred of priests to synopses of the operas and a detailed discography of the best recordings to buy, it can all be found in Verdi with a Vengeance. William Berger has given another improbable performance, serving up a book as thorough as it is funny and as original as it is astute, an utterly indispensable guide for novice and expert alike.

Verdi With a Vengeance: An Energetic Guide to the Life and Complete Works of the King of Opera

Berger, William

Humor & Entertainment

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Traces the history of opera and its stylistic variations, discusses major operatic composers and their work, surveys classic operatic works, and offers concise profiles of legendary singers and performers.

The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Opera

Literature & Fiction

Perigee Trade

House of the Angels;

Joseph

An expert in the field of allergies and asthma offers an innovative, practical, and accessible eight-week approach designed to relieve the discomfort of respiratory ailments, presenting a unique seven-step Breath-Easy Plan that helps readers determine the causes of the problem, increase resistance, find the best treatments, bolster immunity, and more. Original.

Allergy and Asthma Relief

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Diseases & Physical Ailments

Readers' Digest

Puccini is the most beloved composer of opera in the world: one quarter of all opera performances in the U.S. are of his operas, his music pervades movie soundtracks, and his plots have infiltrated our popular culture. But, although Puccini’s art still captivates audiences and the popularity of such works as Tosca, La Bohéme, and Madama Butterfly has never waned, he has long been a victim of critical snobbery and cultural marginalization.
In this witty and informative guide for beginners and fans alike, William Berger sets the record straight, reclaiming Puccini as a serious artist. Combining his trademark irreverent humor with passionate enthusiasm, Berger strikes just the right balance of introductory information and thought-provoking analysis. He includes a biography, discussions of each opera, a glossary, fun facts and anecdotes, and above all keen insight into Puccini’s enduring power. For anyone who loves Puccini and for anyone who just wonders what all the fuss is about, Puccini Without Excuses is funny, challenging, and always a pleasure to read.
INCLUDES:
• Why Puccini’s art and its message of hope is crucial to our world today
• How Anglo audiences often miss the mythic significance of his operas
• The use of his music as shorthand in films, from A Room with a View to Fatal Attraction 
• A scene-by scene analysis of each opera
• A guide to the wealth of available recordings, books, and videos

Puccini Without Excuses: A Refreshing Reassessment of the World's Most Popular Composer

Speaking of Wagner: Talking To Audiences About The Ring Of The Nibelung

Speaking of Wagner compiles in a new and highly accessible format celebrated author, lecturer, and Metropolitan Opera commentator William Berger's collection of talks and presentations about Richard Wagner, the most controversial, and perhaps the most widely influential, artist in history. These talks have been successful with diverse audiences, ranging from newcomers to the field to the most exacting experts, often at the same time! Berger's book preserves that wide range of tone: erudite but engaging, from lofty to startlingly coarse (as the subject requires), and connecting the subject to references from mythology to psychology and even (and especially) to cutting-edge pop culture.

History & Criticism

Academica Press

Speaking of Wagner compiles in a new and highly accessible format celebrated author, lecturer, and Metropolitan Opera commentator William Berger’s collection of talks and presentations about Richard Wagner, the most controversial, and perhaps the most widely influential, artist in history. These talks have been successful with diverse audiences, ranging from newcomers to the field to the most exacting experts, often at the same time! Berger’s book preserves that wide range of tone: erudite but engaging, from lofty to startlingly coarse (as the subject requires), and connecting the subject to references from mythology to psychology and even (and especially) to cutting-edge pop culture.

Seeking the Sublime Cache: Opera Articles Selected and Written by William Berger

Arts & Photography

Music

Independently published

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Berger, William. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Berger, William

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Berger, William. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Verdi With a Vengeance: An Energetic Guide to the Life and Complete Works of the King of Opera

The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Opera

House of the Angels;

Allergy and Asthma Relief

Puccini Without Excuses: A Refreshing Reassessment of the World's Most Popular Composer

Speaking of Wagner: Talking To Audiences About The Ring Of The Nibelung

Speaking of Wagner: Talking To Audiences About The Ring Of The Nibelung

Seeking the Sublime Cache: Opera Articles Selected and Written by William Berger