One of the late twentieth centurys most celebrated and influential public intellectuals, Edward W. Said was also a critic of astonishing range. This book presents his insightful and elegant analyses of four major operasoriginally delivered as the Empson Lectures at Cambridge University in 1997showcasing the power of Saids critical acumen to unsettle canonical interpretations.

In close readings of MozartsCos fan tutte, BeethovensFidelio, BerliozsLes Troyens, and WagnersDie Meistersinger von Nrnberg, Said explores how each opera engages with the social and political questions of their own erasand how they might speak to the present. He pays careful attention to the works historical context as well as the possibilities they open for contemporary reinterpretations, examining the tension between operas cultural prestige and its potential for subversion. Said considers the representation of national identity, class, and exoticism, and he shows how cultural and literary studies can enrich understandings of operatic texts and performance. Lucid and gracefully written,Said on Operaenlivens well-known works with fresh insights and demonstrates the breadth of Saids contributions to cultural criticism.

This book features an introduction by the editor, Wouter Capitain, who situates these essays in the context of Saids career, and a foreword by the acclaimed opera director Peter Sellars, who offers a masterful appreciation of Saids achievements.

This book presents Edward W. Said’s insightful and elegant analyses of four major operas–originally delivered as the Empson Lectures at Cambridge University in 1997–showcasing the power of his critical acumen to unsettle canonical interpretations.