The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations Series by P. Craig Russell, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Long out of print, the many adaptations that Russell has done of famous operas are finally collected again in 3 volumes, in the wake of his highly successful massive recent adaptation of Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung. This first volume presents his adaptation of one of Mozart’s most famous works, a farcical tale mixed with fantasy. The story begins as the Queen of the Night sets Prince Tamino on a quest to rescue her daughter, Pamina from the evil Sarastro... moreLong out of print, the many adaptations that Russell has done of famous operas are finally collected again in 3 volumes, in the wake of his highly successful massive recent adaptation of Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung. This first volume presents his adaptation of one of Mozart’s most famous works, a farcical tale mixed with fantasy. The story begins as the Queen of the Night sets Prince Tamino on a quest to rescue her daughter, Pamina from the evil Sarastro. On the way, he meets the bird-catcher Papageno, who is “persuaded” to help Tamino in his quest. Tamino’s spiritual quest is counterpoised with Papageno’s own earthly search for his one true love, Papagena. Both couples’ strivings are juxtaposed with the eternal conflict between Sarastro and the Queen of the Night. less

In this volume, Russell’s classic adaptations of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal from the legend of the Holy Grail, Ariane & Bluebeard by Maeterlinck and Dukas, “The Clowns” taken from I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, as well as two songs by Mahler: “The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow" and “Unto This World.”

This collection of Russell’s classic adaptations concludes with Pelleas & Melisande by Maeterlinck and Debussy, Salome by Richard Strauss and the all new The Godfather’s Code from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni.

Combining three beautiful volumes into one elegant set, this collection captures classic adaptations in stunning comic art, from The Magic Flute, Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, “The Clowns” from Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci, and Pelleas and Melisande to Strauss’ Salome, Maeterlinck and Dukas’ Ariane and Bluebeard, and “The Godfather’s Code” from Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. Two songs by Mahler—“The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow" and “Unto This World”—are also featured.