196 Pages
by
Routledge
200 Pages
by
Routledge
200 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
Caritas relates the 'true', yet largely undocumented story of Christine Carpenter, a 14th-century anchoress who moves towards insanity as her desire for a divine revelation continues to be unfulfilled after a period of three years locked in her cell. Although physically isolated, she is aware of the worldly life and love that she has abandoned. The very essence of the drama is the dogmatic... Read more
Contents: Preface; Introduction: operatic context; Christine Carpenter: from documents to drama; Caritas: towards the opera; Caritas the opera: overview; Caritas: performance and reception; The Wandering Jew and other works after Caritas; Reflections and projections: an interview with Robert Saxton; Appendices; Select bibliography; Index.
Biography
Wyndham Thomas, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Music, University of Bristol, UK.
'As both composer and specialist on medieval music, Thomas is able to approach the subject matter and its musical realisation from a position of erudite authority, interrogating closely the score and its related texts... Thomas skilfully demonstrates the means by which Saxton generates momentum across the 78-minute work... The three chapters that are devoted to the genesis of the opera (from historical documents through to the actual music) are the core of the book, and barely a page goes past without an illuminating comment... What Thomas's compelling study demonstrates time and again is that Caritas's value - if we have to think in such terms at all - lies in its impeccable attention to detail and craftsmanship and above all in the way that, by virtue of a deeply felt and considered response to the text, Saxton fashions anew a dramatic musical language that appeals to both the emotions and the intellect.' CHOMBEC News
