Composed by Rimsky-Korsakov in 1888, Scheherazade is thematically based on the series of stories known as One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights. You can hear the voice of Scheherazade in the sweet strains of the violin solo, while the threatening tones of the Sultan are evoked by the bass motif in the first movement.
The Arabian Nights
The clever and beautiful Scheherazade enchants her husband, a bloodthirsty sultan who executes each of his wives after one night of marriage, with a story each evening, always ending on a cliffhanger in order to postpone her execution for one more day. After one thousand and one nights of stories, the sultan decides to spare her life.
Romeo and Juliet by Sergey Prokofiev
Prokofiev's dramatized ballet is based on Shakespeare's tragic play and originally had a happy ending in which Romeo and Juliet dance away hand in hand. After some controversy - and at the insistence of Soviet cultural officials - Prokofiev reinstated the original ending, although he wasn't happy about some of the musical changes made to his score. The ballet premiered in 1938 and a film version was made in 1955.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, this tragic romance tells the story of two young lovers from warring families. The play has been retold countless times and has inspired books, operas, ballets, and movies.
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical is a little different from - and perhaps better known than - the book that inspired it. The modernized operatic music from the hit Broadway play sweeps listeners into the romantic world of young opera singer Christine, Raoul, and the mysterious Phantom.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Phantom of the Opera is partially inspired by true events and by the rumors surrounding a Paris opera house, the Palais Garnier, in the nineteenth century. Leroux, a courtroom reporter and drama critic, also wrote detective stories, and the mystery of the Phantom's identity is central to the plot.
You might also want to try this book, which is inspired by some of the great music of the 1970s!
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Written as an oral history and including interviews from members of the eponymous band, Daisy Jones and the Six is a fictional telling of the meteoric rise and mysterious fall of one of the bands that defined rock music in the 1970s. Author Taylor Jenkins Reid draws inspiration from actual bands of the era, such as Fleetwood Mac.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical is a little different from - and perhaps better known than - the book that inspired it. The modernized operatic music from the hit Broadway play sweeps listeners into the romantic world of young opera singer Christine, Raoul, and the mysterious Phantom.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Phantom of the Opera is partially inspired by true events and by the rumors surrounding a Paris opera house, the Palais Garnier, in the nineteenth century. Leroux, a courtroom reporter and drama critic, also wrote detective stories, and the mystery of the Phantom's identity is central to the plot.
You might also want to try this book, which is inspired by some of the great music of the 1970s!
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Written as an oral history and including interviews from members of the eponymous band, Daisy Jones and the Six is a fictional telling of the meteoric rise and mysterious fall of one of the bands that defined rock music in the 1970s. Author Taylor Jenkins Reid draws inspiration from actual bands of the era, such as Fleetwood Mac.
You can listen to the music of Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin by checking out music CDs in the library's collection.
Melissa
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks
Melissa
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks
