The monograph focuses on the twentieth-century American political opera, written from 1976 onwards in three new genres: video-opera (created by Steve Reich), opera based on contemporary topics that are manifested with documentary fidelity (created by John Adams) and a portrait opera (created by Philip Glass).

The author analyses the substantial contribution made by American composers to the development of twentieth-century opera. The methodological approach employed in this book is influenced by Mieczyslaw Tomaszewski's method of integral interpretation. The operas analyzed in this monograph, written from 1976 onwards, represent a watershed in twentieth-century American opera, characterised by three main aspects: firstly, creation of video-opera, represented by the works of Steve Reich, secondly, creation of a new kind of opera based on topics related to contemporary events that are manifested with documentary fidelity, represented by works of John Adams, and lastly, the introduction of a new genre: a portrait opera, characteristic for the works of Philip Glass.

Autorentext

Joanna Miklaszewska, is Adjunct Professor at the University of Wroc aw, in the Institute of Musicology. Her main fields of interest are: minimalism in Polish music, political opera, American music of the twentieth century and music lexicography. She is the author of several scientific publications on these topics and many entries in musical encyclopaedias.

Inhalt

American political opera during the first half of the twentieth century - The portrait operä created by Philip Glass - Documentary stage works created by John Adams - Video-opera created by Steve Reich