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While a stage\nproduction can disrupt a work that was thought to be established,\nDavid J. Levin here argues that the genre of opera is itself\nunsettled, and that the performance of operas, at its best,\nclarifies this condition by bringing opera’s restlessness and\nvolatility to life.
\n_           \nUnsettling Opera_explores a variety of fields, considering\nquestions of operatic textuality, dramaturgical practice, and\nperformance theory. Levin opens with a brief history of opera\nproduction, opera studies, and dramatic composition, and goes on to\nconsider in detail various productions of the works of Wagner,\nMozart, Verdi, and Alexander Zemlinsky. Ultimately, the book seeks\nto initiate a dialogue between scholars of music, literature, and\nperformance by addressing questions raised in each field in a\nmanner that influences them all.

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\n           \n“Levin is one of the few scholars who functions effectively as both\na literary critic in the University and a practical dramaturg in\nthe opera house. His fascinating book demonstrates how critical\nreadings of music and text can generate stagings that challenge and\ncompel… . An indispensable guide.”—Philip Gossett

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