{"title":"Melina Esse","description":"\u003cp\u003eMelina Esse explores the rich tapestry of \u003cem\u003earts and culture\u003c\/em\u003e with a keen eye for historical and literary resonance. Her works delve into iconic figures and moments, inviting readers to engage deeply with the narratives that shape our understanding of creativity and heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a style that balances scholarly insight and accessible prose, Esse's writing illuminates the passions and contexts behind artistic expression. Readers can expect thoughtful, evocative explorations that celebrate the enduring power of art across time.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"singing-sappho-by-melina-esse-9780226741772","title":"Singing Sappho","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the theatrical stage to the literary salon, the figure of Sappho—the ancient poet and inspiring icon of feminine creativity—played a major role in the intertwining histories of improvisation, text, and performance throughout the nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExploring the connections between operatic and poetic improvisation in Italy and beyond, \u003ci\u003eSinging Sappho\u003c\/i\u003e combines earwitness accounts of famous female improviser-virtuosi with erudite analysis of musical and literary practices. Melina Esse demonstrates that performance played a much larger role in conceptions of musical authorship than previously recognised, arguing that discourses of spontaneity—specifically those surrounding the \u003ci\u003eimprovvisatrice\u003c\/i\u003e, or female poetic improviser—were paradoxically used to carve out a new authority for opera composers just as improvisation itself was falling into decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith this novel and nuanced book, Esse persuasively reclaims the agency of performers and their crucial role in constituting Italian opera as a genre in the nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47461362139372,"sku":"9780226741772","price":93.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780226741772-singing-sappho.jpg?v=1774966933"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/melina-esse.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}