Kristi Brown-Montesano explores the female roles in Mozart's four most frequently performed operas, 'Le nozze di Figaro' 'Don Giovanni', 'Cosi fan tutte', and 'Die Zauberflote'. Each chapter looks at the music, libretto text, literary sources, and historical factors that give shape to a character
Includes bibliographical references and index
1. Feminine vengeance I : the assailed/assailant-Donna Anna -- 2. Sisterhood and seduction I : abandonment and rescue-Donna Elvira -- 3. Class survival-Zerlina -- 4. Feminine vengeance II : (over)powered politics-The queen of the night -- 5. Good daughter, good wife-Pamina -- 6. Woman's identity I : sacred and profane-The three ladies and Papagena -- 7. Sisterhood and seduction II : friendship and class-Countess Almaviva and Susanna -- 8. Woman's identity II : loss and legitimacy-Marcellina and Barbarina -- 9. Sisterhood and seduction III : intimacy and influence-Fiordiligi and Dorabella -- 10. Survival class-Despina
