Orientalism and the Operatic World

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Focusing on the globalization of opera over the past two centuries, this work analyzes key operas by composers such as Handel, Verdi, and Puccini. It challenges Edward Said's notion of Western art as a tool for dehumanizing the East, positing instead that opera serves as a humanizing force. Through its exploration of shared human experiences and passions expressed in song, the book redefines the relationship between Western opera and Eastern cultures, highlighting the genre's potential for fostering understanding rather than domination.