Richard Osborne (3) (1943–)

A somewhat pretentious biography of Rossini which is stronger in its analysis of the music than in its overview of his life. Osborne is clearly writing for the serious opera-lover who already knows about Rossini, his works, and the houses of the time. If you didn't already know that the first two performances of 'Tancredi' had to be prematurely ended due to illness of the lead performer, Osborne won't tell you this directly; he'll tell you in passing as he explains how we know when during the performance it happens, based on what arias the reviews mentioned. He won't explain to you that a particular aria became popular around Europe, instead he'll reference that in passing during another sentence. Essentially, you should already have heard these details over the course of your life; Osborne is merely putting them into sequence for you.

Still, mustn't be churlish. It stands up to reading if you're seeking out particular information or an overview of all the operas that is more substantial than in the New Grove or other focused works on the author.

Make sure you get the 2007 second edition. As Osborne notes in his introduction, it is almost a new book in many ways given the advances of Rossini scholarship in the 25 years since the first edition.… (meer)

Herbert von Karajan is arguably the most controversial conductor of the 20th century. In a way, he's like God (a comparison with which neither Karajan nor Osborne would object too strenuously). If you're an atheist, God is a tyrant and a megalomaniac; if you're a true believer, He's transcendent and perfect. Nothing Karajan says in this book will be likely to change anyone's mind. As for Osborne, I'm not sure how I'd react if I spent a considerable amount of time talking to someone who clearly worshipped the sofa I sat on. Osborne's interview technique is to make an adulatory statement and then put a question mark at the end of it. Karajan doesn't seem to mind much, though. Typically, he's in agreement. Please don't get me wrong; Karajan has provided me with many hours of great pleasure, especially in his many operatic recordings. It's just that this book does blessed little to provide much illumination much of anything.… (meer)