MTU Library Catalogue

Syndetics cover image
Image from Syndetics

English opera in late eighteenth-century London : Stephen Storace at Drury Lane / Jane Girdham.

By: Girdham, Jane.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Oxford : New York : Clarendon Press ; Oxford University Press, 1997Description: xiv, 272 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. + hbk.ISBN: 0198162545.Subject(s): Storace, Stephen, 1762-1796. Operas | Opera -- London (England) -- 18th centuryDDC classification: 782.109421

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

English opera reached a peak of popularity in the late eighteenth century, sharing the stage with spoken plays. Stephen Storace (1762-96) dominated the music at Drury Lane from 1788 until his death in 1796, with works that were outstanding among their peers. In his mainpieces he integrated music and drama along Italian lines; in his afterpieces he followed the English tradition to which he was heir. His original music demonstrates a lyrical gift and strong sense of the theatre, while his use of borrowed material shows a practical man of the theatre.Theatrical life is discussed from a practical perspective to give fair weight to music in the well-being of the institution. The music publishing industry was also important to Storace, both in disseminating his music and in providing a large part of his income. His publications are placed in the context of publishing norms and early use of copyright provisions for his music.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-261) and index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface and Acknowledgements (p. vii)
  • Abbreviations and Conventions (p. xiii)
  • Part I Contexts (p. 1)
  • 1 Biography (p. 3)
  • 2 Theatrical Life in the Time of Storage (p. 37)
  • 3 Musicians at Drury Lane (p. 61)
  • 4 Music Publishing in the Late Eighteenth Century (p. 83)
  • Part II The Music (p. 121)
  • 5 Questions of Genre (p. 123)
  • 6 Mainpieces (p. 136)
  • 7 Afterpieces and Other Stage Works (p. 171)
  • 8 Borrowings (p. 221)
  • 9 Conclusions (p. 223)
  • Appendix 1 Storace's Epitaph by Prince Hoare (p. 227)
  • Appendix 3 Entries in the Stationers' Hall Registers of Storace's Works (p. 235)
  • Appendix 4 Complete List of Works (p. 239)
  • Appendix 5 Operas in Which Storace Used Borrowed Material (p. 241)
  • Bibliography (p. 251)
  • Index (p. 263)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Jane Girdham is at Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan.