This is an auction for MOZART AND HIS OPERAS by David Cairns.

Amazon.com reviews:

“David Cairns—winner of the Whitbread Biography Award and the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction—has spent his life immersed in Mozart’s music, both as a performer and as a listener. This biography sheds new and important light on the composer by placing his operas in the context of his life and his complete musical output. Mozart's unusual childhood as a musical prodigy touring Europe as a performer from an early age is well known. Cairns unravels the many myths surrounding Mozart to reveal the opinionated, passionate, and exceptionally intelligent man behind the legend. Cairns shows that familiarity with the operas can transform our perception of Mozart's art. He demonstrates that the composer’s approach to composition was that of a consummate dramatist. He discusses Mozart’s later genius as displayed in the three comic operas The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte, and in The Magic Flute, the final and greatest triumph of his career.”

“FIVE STARS!! Like all successful musical guides, David Cairns' magisterial survey of Mozart's operas weaves in just enough biographical and contextual circumstance to balance the musicological elements. His tone is light, lucid and engaging throughout; he includes enough analysis to engage the reader with some academic appreciation of musical technicalities but not so much as to alienate the musical illiterate who simply loves the operas. This book is destined to remain the recommended handbook for anyone needing to deepen his response to these pinnacles of Western classical music.”

Paperback 2007.

290 pages + illustrations.

Good condition.

The cost of shipping is $3.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.