OPERA HOUSE: Bright Melody (Vol. I)

  • A sweeping epic from bestselling author Anne Stern – with moving stories both onstage and behind the scenes. A feast for the senses.
  • The eventful history of the Semperoper: the cultured city of Dresden, nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe”, made history in the 19th century.
  • Over 360,000 copies of her Fräulein Gold series (Vol. I-VI) were sold! All six books made it onto the Spiegel bestseller list. Rights were sold to 8 countries.

A world-famous city. A new opera house. A forbidden love. And the sound of immortal music.

Dresden, 1841: After its grand ceremonial opening, the magnificent Hoftheater, or Royal Court Theatre, is like a palace for music. But it is not only the preserve of the king and the nobility – ordinary people can also enjoy the dramas acted out onstage. And things are no less dramatic behind the scenes: the prima ballerina has a tragic secret, the property mistress is trying to escape her past, and the costume-maker has lost faith in true love. And yet the opera house is a magical place for all of them. Young Elise Spielmann is entranced upon her first visit, too. She comes from a family of musicians, and dreams of becoming a famous violinist. When she meets the talented artist’s assistant Christian Hildebrand, they strike up a romantic relationship – in defiance of convention and in the utmost secrecy, since Elise is already promised to the chapel master of the court church. Meanwhile, rebellious forces are gathering all over the country, and the threat of another revolution looms large. But against the darkening sky, love and music shine all the brighter.

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  • Publisher: Rowohlt Polaris
  • Release: 16.05.2023
  • ISBN: 978-3-499-01088-0
  • 384 Pages
  • Series: Die Dresden-Reihe
  • Author: Anne Stern

Awards

  • 2024: gewonnen - DELiA Literaturpreis

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Buchcover von OPERA HOUSE: Bright Melody (Vol. I)
Anne Stern OPERA HOUSE: Bright Melody (Vol. I)
Portrait von Anne Stern
© Max Zerrahn
Anne Stern

Anne Stern is a doctorate Germanist and historian who lives in Berlin. Her series about the Berlin midwife Fräulein Gold has been a great success, with each book becoming a Spiegel bestseller.