[+] Ivry, Benjamin. "Too Strong for Fantasias: Does the Popularization of Opera Themes breed Familarity--or Contempt?" Opera News 53 (21 January 1989): 20-21, 46.
Virtuosic transcriptions of opera themes became very popular in the nineteenth century. In many cases this led to an overfamiliarity that resulted in contempt. Among composers who made arrangements of opera arias were Liszt, Chopin, Huten, Czerny, Thalberg, Herz, Krebs, Rummel, and Heller. Some arrangements were for several pianos. Others were variations by several composers on the same theme.
Works: Czerny: Fantasy on themes from Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable (21); Thalberg: Fantasy on Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, Op. 20 (21); Herz: Variations on Ein feste Burg (21).
Index Classifications: 1800s
Contributed by: Cathleen Cameron
