Artistically limited by the bel canto musical tradition popular at the time, Verdi launched a new style dramma per musica which also demanded a new soprano archetype. This book illustrates the musical evolution of the Verdi and Puccini soprano while illuminating the dramatic scope and power of these great heroines. Avoiding critical reductionism, Verdi and Puccini Heroines provides an unprecedented and probing discussion of how these great soprano roles were conceived and executed.

Geoffrey Edwards is an award-winning author and stage director. Ryan Edwards, a leading baritone with the Metropolitan Opera, has received international acclaim as a singing actor.

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 1. Il Trovatore Chapter 3 2. La Forza del Destino Chapter 4 3. Aida Chapter 5 4. La Boheme Chapter 6 5. Tosca Chapter 7 6. Madama Butterfly Chapter 8 7. Turandot Chapter 9 Appendix: Source Previews and Plot Synopses Chapter 10 Notes Chapter 11 Selected Bibliography Chapter 12 Index Chapter 13 About the Authors