Ragazzo
Welcome, dear reader, to my greatest production since my death!
This Opera Seria, this Opera Buffa, this tragedy, this comedy is the story of two millionaires whose wager destroyed an innocent boy, creating the greatest singer and the greatest killer who ever lived.
It is also the story of how the greatest composer in history was relaunched in the musical minds of the populace.
Laugh out Loud funny spoof on Opera Buff
This is an extremely well researched and well written book riduculing the awfulness of opera storylines and commedia del arte type characters. The central character a Castrati, (a young boy castrated without his knowledge, who is the subject of a castle. Will critics judge his voice, when trained and matured, as better than any alternative singing the part.
Took a few pages to work out what sort of a book this was, but once in it, it is masterful in the way it combines absorbing story line while making fun of itself and the genre it’s set in.
Helpfully, along the way, Elkon suggests relevant clips of arias the reader might like to enjoy. I didn’t do that, and the story holds up on its own, but I shall go back and have a second pleasureable journey through the fantastical book, with musical intervals.
JUDITH MAY
Captivating, finished it in 2 days
Told from the perspective of a long dead composer, this magnificent tale chronicles the undertaking of an impossibility: to create the voice of a generation by any means necessary, no matter how barbaric.
The story flits through 20th century European locales and time itself, offering a well researched and highly entertaining glimpse into the shadowy world of 20th century operatic tradition. I particularly liked the diverse cast of characters, especially the eponymous ‘Ragazzo’, and how our sympathies blur as his story unfolds and he becomes further removed from the life so cruelly torn from him.
I can recommend this book to lovers of magical realism and vignettes, and, of course, fans of classical music and opera.
THOMAS JOYCE
Unique picaresque novel full of high farce, whimsy and tragedy
An excellent read – you won’t find another book like this!
A picaresque novel, nominally narrated by the great George Frideric Handel. The author, Jon Elkon, is not afraid to break the fourth wall and the book is by turns tragic, historical, farcical and hard-hitting.
Following a poor boy from the slums who becomes a castrato long after the practice ceased, this fascinating book will take you to unknown operatic worlds and to the depths of human behaviour, via Frau Slappmeister and Castle Schweinstein. Highly recommended.
DANIELLE C
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