Music: Operas in English

In continental Europe opera is usually sung in the language of the country where it is produced. Thus in Germany Pagliacci becomes Bajazzo, in Italy Tristan nnd Isolde becomes Tristano e Isotta, in France Götterddmmerung becomes Le Crepuscule des Dieux. In England and the U. S. opera is usually given in its original language. But from time to time British and U. S. producers have interested themselves in the idea of translated opera and have tried out performances, even entire seasons, of opera in English.

One of the principal obstacles to presenting opera successfully in English has always been the high-flown, stilted...

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