{"title":"Richard Somerset-Ward","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"story-of-opera-book-richard-somerset-ward-9781854106087","title":"The Story of Opera","description":"Published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first performance of the very first opera, this book is an illustrated celebration and includes a lively and informative account of the development of this sophisticated musical form.'","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49538550366481,"sku":"GOR001985476","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1854106082.jpg?v=1750802927"},{"product_id":"angels-and-monsters-book-richard-somerset-ward-9780300099683","title":"Angels and Monsters","description":"'Angels and Monsters' tells the story of opera sopranos. At first the castrati was supreme, capable of feats of vocalism unimaginable today, but in the early 19th century they disappeared, to be replaced by the female sopranos who had long battled for recognition.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49557187330321,"sku":"GOR004678615","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50346643980561,"sku":"CIN0300099681VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0300099681.jpg?v=1751133773"},{"product_id":"story-of-opera-book-richard-somerset-ward-9780810941939","title":"The Story of Opera","description":"A comprehensive salute to the great Italian, German, French, English, and Russian operas and artists covers its four-hundred-year history with a special survey of the directors, performers, and composers of the twentieth century. 10,000 first printing. BOMC.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49577644491025,"sku":"GOR013688237","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49622536028433,"sku":"GOR007965136","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49934176387345,"sku":"CIN0810941937G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50278270697745,"sku":"CIN0810941937VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0810941937.jpg?v=1751139112"},{"product_id":"american-theatre-deluxe-box-edition-book-richard-somerset-ward-9780300109382","title":"An American Theatre (deluxe box edition)","description":"For 75 years, Westport Country Playhouse has faithfully reflected the story of American theatre. Founded by Lawrence and Armina Langner in 1931, it has never been more than a summer stock theatre, yet it has an astonishing pedigree. George Bernard Shaw and Noel Coward gave world premieres there; so did Leonard Gershe and A. R. Gurney in more recent times. Playwrights Eugene O'Neill and S. N. Behrman were closely linked to it, and talents as diverse as Jane Wyatt, Gene Kelly, Stephen Sondheim, and Liza Minnelli performed there early in their careers. The aristocracy of the acting profession and the giants of Hollywood appeared — Ethel Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Paul Robeson, Groucho Marx, Tyrone Power, Olivia de Havilland. And the Playhouse can claim a role in the creation of two of the American theatre's greatest musicals — Oklahoma! and My Fair Lady.  This fascinating and lavishly illustrated book traces the entire story of Westport Country Playhouse from its beginnings in the midst of the Depression to its 75th anniversary renovations and rejuvenation. Filled with colorful characters and lively anecdotes, it is a story that will appeal to everyone who has ever been enchanted by the magic of a live theatre performance.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51324315894033,"sku":"CIN0300109385VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0300109385.jpg?v=1751196181"},{"product_id":"angels-and-monsters-book-richard-somerset-ward-9780300209792","title":"Angels and Monsters","description":"A riveting history of the early male and female sopranos for whom many of the greatest roles in opera were written   During its first two centuries, opera was dominated by sopranos. There were male sopranos, or castrati, whose supercharged voices (female vocal cords powered by male lungs) were capable of feats of vocalism that are hard to imagine today. And there were female sopranos, or prima donnas, whose long battle for social acceptance and top billing was crowned in the early nineteenth century when the castrati disappeared from the opera stage and left them supreme.    Whether they were male or female, these singers were amazing virtuosi, perhaps the greatest singers there have ever been—“angels.” Unfortunately, some of them (and often the most famous) were also capable of behaving extremely badly, both on and off stage—“monsters.” This book tells their colorful stories.    Besides providing fascinating anecdotes about some of those who graced and disgraced the operatic stage, Richard Somerset-Ward tells the story of their greatest glory—the singing tradition they founded and perfected, which we know as bel canto and which is still the backbone of operatic singing today.    Rich in musical, social, and cultural lore, Angels and Monsters illuminates a unique and vanished tradition and will be irresistible to opera lovers everywhere.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52680937636113,"sku":"NLS9780300209792","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780300209792.jpg?v=1762314340"},{"product_id":"american-theatre-book-richard-somerset-ward-9780300106480","title":"An American Theatre","description":"For 75 years, Westport Country Playhouse has faithfully reflected the story of American theatre. Founded by Lawrence and Armina Langner in 1931, it has never been more than a summer stock theatre, yet it has an astonishing pedigree. George Bernard Shaw and Noël Coward gave world premieres there; so did Leonard Gershe and A. R. Gurney in more recent times. Playwrights Eugene O’Neill and S. N. 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