‘Opera and …’: The Pleasures and Perils of Amalgamation

We might start with the Index, often a good indicator of book's flavour, its local habitation. First up is ‘Abbate, acoustics, acting, Adler, Adorno’, reassuring miscellany; later on, German-speaking collective ‘Schopenhauer, Schreker, Schubart, Schumann-Heink’ awakens memories time past. ‘Ventilation systems, Verdi, vitalism’, however, turns on landing lights for distinctly new approach, while ‘hygiene [both mental and moral], hyperacusis, hyperaesthesia acoustica , hypnosis, hysteria’ ushers in another region entirely: medicine, pathologies. Starting at end, we are thus prepared: sense anticipation allied to hopes intriguing surprises offing. And such expectations whole justified. In spite title – that fence-sitting conjunction this collection worthy serious attempt write chapters musicology's revolving challenge internalist preoccupations