Routledge Opera in Performance - Theatre Studies Book

Explore the performative dimension of contemporary opera with this academic study from Routledge. In Opera in Performance, Clemens Risi examines the most striking and decisive moments within an opera production. By utilizing phenomenology and performance theory, the text investigates why audiences respond so strongly to specific stagings, the physical presence of performers, and the impact of both virtuosic and unconventional voices. This book analyzes the dialogue between performers and the audience, exploring the tension between representation and presence, as well as the familiar and the new. Risi applies these theoretical insights through critical descriptions of his own experiences, providing a deep look into how modern opera productions function. This work is part of the Routledge Advances in Theatre and Performance Studies series, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars of the performing arts.