Silver Moon: Stories from Antonin Dvonak's Most Enchanting Operas

by Ian Krykorka, Vladyana Krykorka (Illustrator)

The stories that inspired Antonin Dvorak's enchanting operas

Once upon a time, deep in the forests of Bohemia...enchantment was as thick as the trees, and young men and women of all kinds met and fell in love under the spell of the silver moon. Many years later, Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) set some of their stories to music. As the stories came to life on stage, they found an audience in the hearts of grownups and children around the world. Here are three of Dvorak's Bohemian tales, richly told and lovingly illustrated. Meet Rusalka, Bohemia's own little mermaid; and Lidushka, the peasant who danced with a king. Then there is Kate, saved from certain doom by her own bad temper.

Just as in all the best fairytales, love suffers and is rewarded in these stories, and a good heart and quick thinking are enough to win the day. Antonin Dvorak's own life had a bit of a fairy tale in it, as readers learn in these pages. His musical talent lifted him from the shopkeeper's life he was born to, up to the heights of international stardom. But his art was always deeply rooted in the folktales and songs of his homeland. Silver Moon celebrates that wellspring of creativity in a new and luminous way.

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2004

Reviews

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, gorgeous illustrations. This is a short book that contains three retellings from Dvorak's operas. The retellings themselves are short and child-like. This would be a great gift for a young child. The book also contains biographical information about Dvorak that was interesting to read. I accidentally stumbled upon this on archive.org, but I may just purchase the book for the illustrations.

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the span of my life I have grown more interested in reading and stories than in listening to music. As a young man I listened to more music. Some music still moves my soul; Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 From The New World is one of those pieces. I have never listened to Dvorak's operas and, at this point, probably won't. At least now, I know the stories from three of them. They are all happily-ever-after stories, which pleased me because opera stories are frequently risqué or brutal. The illustrations enhance the happily-ever-after feeling.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories will make the operas easily accessible to children. Lovely watercolor illustrations enhance and extend the stories. The book also includes an English translation for "Silver Moon", one of the famous songs from "Rusalka." Includes some interesting biographical information about Dvorak.