Handel's Bestiary: In Search of Animals in Handel's Operas [With CD (Audio)]

International Praise for Handel's Bestiary

"A wonderful book. A compendium colorfully illustrated by Michael Sowa, to be enjoyed not only by musical connoisseurs." --Der Spiegel (Germany)

"What Leon tells us is a real joy, and many of the details are unfamiliar. If as you read you listen to the music by Il Complesso Barocco that accompanies it, you are in for a sensual treat - and one which will also broaden your horizons." --Stern (Germany)

"The book, wittily illustrated by Michael Sowa, is accompanied by a CD of arias recorded by Il Complesso Barocco. A real tour de force!" --News (Austria)

"As an expert on medieval bestiaries - moral lessons and fables about animals - she cleverly describes how Handel portrays specific characteristics of these animals in his music. Naturally a CD with all twelve animal arias is included - musical fun, with enchanting pictures by the German painter and illustrator Michael Sowa." --Hamburger Abendblatt (Germany)

"A charming little compendium. As clever as it is entertaining. Leon doesn't turn to modern biologists to make the case for her menagerie. Rather she reminds us what Pliny and Herodotus knew about lions, that in the Middle Ages people thought bees were a small kind of bird, and describes - without being in the least patronizing - the bewilderment with which 18th century Europe saw its first elephant trunks." --Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)

"A great reading and listening pleasure." --Ruhr Nachrichten (Germany)

"A 'total work of art' with text, music, and beautiful illustrations by Michael Sowa ... Donna Leon manages to combine three things in her book: 1. her profound knowledge of ancient nature writing (such as Pliny the Elder) and medieval bestiaries (e.g. Isidore of Seville), 2. Her passion for George Frideric Handel, and 3. her years of friendship with the conductor and Handel expert Alan Curtis. ... Most whimsical and linguistically at the highest level. Rating: Great." --KulturRadio (Germany)

"The lovely tones, amusingly entertaining words and impish drawings yield a wonderful mixture." --Sandameer (Austria)

"Charming ... [Handel's Bestiary] would make a thoughtful and unusual gift." --Joanne Sydney Lessner, Opera News

Complemented by a CD recording conducted by Alan Curtis, a literary, visual and musical exploration of Handel's arias by the author of the Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries shares her insights into the animal themes within his arias, drawing on her expertise in medieval bestiaries to trace 12 animals through history, mythology and Handel's operas.