Mitchell Cohen Knihy

Critics might question putting the work of Plato and Malcolm X together between the same covers, but the contrast simply suggests the wide range of thinkers one finds in this collection. Plato, Thucydides, St. Augustine, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Karl Marx, Frantz Fanon, Leo Strauss, Max Weber: All and many more can be found here, represented by substantial excerpts from their most characteristic and important writings.--The Washington Times

To say that The Politics of Opera is a remarkable achievement would be to give no sense of the magnitude of the undertaking, the challenge of writing a work that does justice not only to the political underpinnings of opera, but also to its music, drama, dramaturgy, and singers. This is an important cultural history and Cohen is a brilliant guide. - Richard Kramer, author of Cherubino's Leap and Unfinished Music

Focusing on Lucien Goldmann's contributions to postwar French intellectual thought, this study explores his advocacy for socialist humanism amidst a crisis in Marxism during the 1950s and 1960s. Goldmann challenged the conventional Marxist perception of the proletariat and critiqued the structuralist and antihumanist trends prevalent in French leftist circles. Through his work, Cohen highlights Goldmann's call for a radical reinvention of Marxism to ensure its relevance and survival in changing political landscapes.

Set against the backdrop of New York in the 1970s and early 1980s, the narrative explores the cultural and historical impact of a record company during this vibrant era. It offers a unique remix of the music scene, highlighting how the company mirrored the social dynamics and artistic innovations of its time. Through this lens, readers gain insight into the intersection of music and culture, revealing the transformative power of sound in a pivotal period of American history.

A wide-ranging look at the interplay of opera and political ideas through the centuries The Politics of Opera takes readers on a fascinating journey into the entwined development of opera and politics, from the Renaissance through the turn of the nineteenth century. What political backdrops have shaped opera? How has opera conveyed the political ideas of its times? Delving into European history and thought and music by such greats as Monteverdi, Lully, Rameau, and Mozart, Mitchell Cohen reveals how politics—through story lines, symbols, harmonies, and musical motifs—has played an operatic role both robust and sotto voce. This is an engrossing book that will interest all who love opera and are intrigued by politics.