Midsummer Nights: Tales from the Opera:: with Kate Atkinson, Sebastian Barry, Ali Smith & more

by Jeanette Winterson

With Kate Atkinson, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright, Alexander McCall Smith, Andrew O'Hagan, Kate Mosse, Andrew Motion, Colm Tóibín, Joanna Trollope, Ali Smith, Jeanette Winterson & more

In this stunning collection, the best and brightest writers working today reimagine familiar stories from the greatest operas. Don Giovanni's ghost haunts a young boy, Fidelio meets Porgy and Bess and two hapless men stage a Mozartian love test. Long-lost loves enter the dating game and undying witches finally get grey hairs. Funny, macabre or irreverent, these stories are charming for any opera lover and a beguiling collection in their own right.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Music

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Novelist Jeanette Winterson was born in Manchester, England in 1959. She was adopted and brought up in Accrington, Lancashire, in the north of England. Her strict Pentecostal Evangelist upbringing provides the background to her acclaimed first novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, published in 1985. She graduated from St Catherine's College, Oxford, and moved to London where she worked as an assistant editor at Pandora Press.

One of the most original voices in British fiction to emerge during the 1980s, Winterson was named as one of the 20 "Best of Young British Writers" in a promotion run jointly between the literary magazine Granta and the Book Marketing Council.

She adapted Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit for BBC television in 1990 and also wrote "Great Moments in Aviation," a television screenplay directed by Beeban Kidron for BBC2 in 1994. She is editor of a series of new editions of novels by Virginia Woolf published in the UK by Vintage. She is a regular contributor of reviews and articles to many newspapers and journals and has a regular column published in The Guardian. Her radio drama includes the play Text Message, broadcast by BBC Radio in November 2001.

Winterson lives in Gloucestershire and London. Her work is published in 28 countries.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reinterpretations (remixes, relayers, redoes, updates, alternate universes, mixed media, shifting the image sideways) are among my favourite things in media. Blending two art forms together to shed light on the originals -- mwah. Kissing the tips of my fingers. Yes.

This collection does that: brings opera & the short story together into a series of uneven, but interesting, pieces. Each story is cursorily or directly based on an opera of the author's choosing. Now I'm the first to admit that opera's not really my thing (I've been to a few, but it's never had the effect it has on most of the characters in these stories) -- but you don't really have to like opera, or know the operas, to find some enjoyment in these. For those curious, there're plot descriptions of each opera at the end -- and I like that it's at the end, that you're not forced into a particular interpretation by an introduction to each story -- but it's not totally necessary.

Sometimes the author veers into left field, only mentioning the opera; other times the plot follows almost precisely. As usual in short story anthologies, some stories are boring, some mediocre, and some are stunning (Jeanette Winterson's "Goldrush Girl" chief among those -- this is Winterson in top form, guys; the collection's worth it just for that). It's quite a quick read, and I imagine if you have a soft spot for opera, exceptionally fun.

If you're not into opera, though, the best of the bunch are Toby Litt's "The Ghost" -- Kate Atkinson's "To Die For" -- Colm Toibin's "The Pearl Fishers" -- Julie Myerson's "The Growler" -- and of course Winterson's offering. All excellent accompaniment for a leisurely summer breakfast (and lunch) on a sun-dappled patio, tra la freakin la!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fully at a loss for how to review or rate this. Any collection of short stories will have some stronger and some weaker offerings. Add in the fact that this is more an anthology, and each story is written by a different author and you get an extremely uneven outcome. Some stories were a five star delight (Ali Smith, Kate Atkinson), some were disastrously puzzling (La Fille de Mélisande). Compromise on three?

[Lucia Coronado · Rating 3 out of 5]

es una colección de mini historias relacionadas con la opera super super monas. tbh en algunas la opera está un poco metida con calzador pero en la mayoría la relación entre la historia en si y la opera q están describiendo o demás es muy muy chulo.

me ha venido perfecto para la época de examenes porque así no perdía hilo de la historia si me tiraba 10 dias sin leer

no de mis mejores lecturas pero si q hay dos o tres historias q me las volvería a leer porque son muy buenas

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of short stories, inspired by popular operas from Classical Music. On paper, this seems like a really cool concept as I think it has the potential of extracting the essence of these musical masterpieces and mould them into a new form. While I enjoyed a few short stories with magical realism / fantasy elements, my experience with this short story anthology as a whole was very mixed. I found that the quality of writing were pretty uneven (quite a few short stories did not pique my interest despite the concept) and insufficiently fleshed out. In the end of the day, I feel like I'm only here for the select few short stories as well as the historical notes on the operas mentioned in this collection.

(2.5 stars out of 5)

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very tricky to review a compilation of short stories by different authors, but the idea is a five star Winterson invention: celebrate opera by taking as a starting point the themes and plots from the stage and writing new fiction. There is also a handy section with a mini synopsis of each opera.

Maybe it’s the dramatic nature of opera but some of the stories are truly haunting. Julie Myersen, Kate Atkinson and Toby Litt especially succeed in crafting new work with a punch. And Jeanette Winterson and Colm Tóibín are class acts whatever they set on the page. Worth reading and satisfying, like a hearty pie.

[Shanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not the intended audience for this book. I am a seventeen year old who has never seen an opera. The closest I've gotten is hearing Summertime sung, like twice. I hardly ever read adult books, but this one was interesting, and I'm glad I did, even though I really picked it up because it had a cute cover. Anyway, I liked some stories and was challenged but othres and either way each will get a one sentence review. Also, what is it with adult books and nameless characters? Ugh
First Lady of Song ⭐⭐⭐.5 I liked the tone of this story, and the ending was happy
Fidelio and Bess ⭐⭐⭐ I didn't quite understand it, but I liked how the opera interacted with the central relationship. Most of the best stories were opera entwined with reality, not jsut retelling it.
Freedom⭐⭐ Not hard to read, but I don't get the point
To Die For ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I liked the twist with this one, even if none of the characters were really appealing.
The Growler ⭐⭐⭐⭐This was quirky, but I don't get the title, I don't get why it was all there, but the characters were glorious
The Ghost ⭐⭐.5 Again, interesting, but WHAT and also WHY and everything was underdeveloped
Nemo⭐⭐⭐ This premise could have been so cool! But it was sold short by a rushed storyline.
The Pearl Fishers⭐ So much no and so much stuff described that I never wanted to be described ugh ugh ugh and also I don't get the pooiiiiinnnnntttt
Key Note ⭐⭐.5 This one was cool but I understood nothing. What did anything in the story have to do with anything and this is a true word that I've written in my life. (sorry, in joke)
First Snow ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The man was probably the point, but I could have done without him; but the character of Hazel the librarian was delightful, and some interesting discussions of feminism
Goldrush Girl⭐⭐⭐.5 Exquisitely written, but probably would have liked it more if I read it twice. Still, I loved how Winterson wrote about a relationship
The Martyr ⭐⭐⭐ Quite interesting--Rendell does a lot with few words--but compart to some of the other vibrant pieces in the collection, this one is bland.
String and Air ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I liked that none of the relationships were really defined, that everyone was weirdly obsessed with the cats, and the cats were weird, and the ending totally caught me by surprise.
The Empty Seat⭐⭐⭐.5 Quirky, but I didn't really understand it. People like opera. I get it. People make new lives. But somehow this story didn't combine them very well.
My Lovely Countess⭐⭐⭐.5 So morbid! I read it with a gruesome pleasure, because I knew things would go wrong, but it was still fun to read.
La Fille de Melisande ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Probably my favourite, nothing was explained, but Mosse's writing reminded me that I have to reread Labyrinth and continue the series. So exquisite! So startlingly brutal. (also Book Thief connections so)
Now the Great Bear...⭐⭐⭐ The elements of dead grandmother and opera did not merge well, but the writing was great, so.
Forget My Fate ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Another excellent one, I liked the opera weaved with life and was updated in mysterious, wonderful ways. Art reflecting art and all that.
The Albanians ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 So good, quirky and delightful and not quite what you'd expect, and opera woven in with it all. I want to read more of McCall Smith's writing--I've only read hish childrens stories in the past.
I'm glad I read this, and it has given me ideas of what I should read if I want to read adult books by established British writers in the future.

[Sarah Ampil · Rating 1 out of 5]

A collection of stories written to commemorate the 75th Glyndebourne Festival of Opera. I was anticipating a collection modern workings of the plots of renowned operas; instead, each story is inspired by different facets of opera as envisioned as 'the product of all the Arts'.

As is with most collections of short stories, this one is a mixed bag. Some beautifully written episodes, others seem forced in writing style, often highly distasteful. Nothing profoundly mind-blowing, however if you're familiar with opera, some of the authors have conveyed libretti/music/mood in innovative ways. So far there seems to be an underlying theme of romantic liaisons - not a surprise considering the nature of opera, but it can get tedious reading about broken/unstable relationships in every story. As a collection, definitely not appropriate for young readers.

[Eva Malkki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love opera and also deal with it as part of my job as a translator. I am (or at least at one time was) a huge fan of Jeanette Winterson. Some of the authors included in this book are ones whose work I have very much enjoyed in the past. So all the elements were there for me to love this collection of short stories. Unfortunately, I didn't. It was a really mixed bag, with not really any flow through it. None of the stories made any particular impression, many of them were just flat-out boring. And I was disappointed that in many the connection to the opera in question was so tenuous as to be practically nonexistent. A letdown all in all.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Midsummer Nights here for just 10!

Jeanette Winterson has brought together many amazing writers to celebrate the 75th year of the Glyndebourne Opera. This is a fantastic way to read works of authors you admire but also discover new writers. Being an opera fan is not a prerequisite, but aficionados will find so much to enjoy.

Elisa - The Book Grocer

[Karen Hapgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed short stories are always a bit of a mixed bag but this book has some great ones (and some OK ones). Each story is inspired by an opera but NO opera knowledge is needed. Many stories I would have had no idea that there was a link to an opera if it wasn’t the premise of the collection. Some great authors and some great stories.

[Sophie (RedheadReading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was quite disappointing! Winterson's contribution is a stunning standout, and I also particularly enjoyed Jackie Kay, Julie Myerson & Paul Bailey. The rest were not necessarily badly written, I just really didn't connect with them.

[Susanne (Pages of Crime) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has taken me twelve months to read these short stories off and on. I just couldn't read them all for any length of time, and really I can't think of any stories that particularly stand out as being great or memorable unfortunately.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories based on operas. Some good, some... meh.

[Pip Jennings]

I’m not rating this book because I liked some of the stories a lot & others not at all.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bad choice, so my own fault. I usually love Jeanette Winterson, but I don't like short stories or opera. Some of the stories were OK, so if you like this sort of thing...

[Wayne's · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were very good.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories a bit twee

[Ansie de Swardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of short stories, all connected to operas in some way. Some better than others.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories inspired by different operas to commemorate the 75th year of the Glyndebourne Festival of Opera. I love Opera. I love so many of the contributing authors (Ali Smith, Lynne Truss, Kate Atkinson). I wanted this to never end.

Favorite Quotes:

From Goldrush Girl by Jeanette Winterson

When you meet someone for the first time, you forget it fast, or
you remember it forever.

We went to lunch.

It was an expensive restaurant with small tables angled to
give the illusion of space. At small tables shamming space it
is necessary to judge distances carefully – between wine glass
and plate, food and fork, especially when you do not know your
host/your guest, and especially when you have ordered food,
not out of politeness, but because you are hungry.

I wanted to kiss you in the way that I want to eat cherries
from the greengrocer’s stall. I don’t want them in plastic boxes
half dead from cold, I want them warm, slightly sweating,
stalky, random. I want to eat them while I walk round finger and-
thumbing the limes and throwing handfuls of rocket into
brown paper bags. I want the smell, the taste, the surprise, the
disagreeable stone.

[m_miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon "Goldrush Girl" in The New Statesman, a British magazine my library gets; it made me cry, and yes, I can be overly-sentimental and I can come to cry a bit too easily these days, but even so my tears are very rarely prompted by a short-story read over my meal break in the back of the library.
I was so impressed that I had to exert a bit of search to track down a copy. This book has not been released in the states, and I rather doubt that it will be; although there are some very well known authors included, it is a collection of writers from the UK to commemorate the founding of a British opera festival, so it is has a relatively limited audience.

There are several pieces from the collection that I feel so-so about, although there are none that I flat out didn't like, which is impressive to me. This is definitely a popcorn read for lit people.

My favorite stories from the collection:
The Pearl Fishers by Colm Toibin
Goldrush Girl by Jeanette Winterson
Forget my Fate by Marina Warner

[Kay Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not an opera fan generally, but I am a fan of many of the contributing authors in this collection. I found that I prefer to pick up a story from time to time, hence the fact that I originally borrowed this book from my local library meant I didn't finish it before due to return it. However, I have since bought my own copy so I can return to stories of my favourite authors as well as those new to my reading history. I found each story readable for itself irrespective of its connection to a particular opera. The notes in the collection regarding the author's choice of opera and a little about that opera was very helpful. However, I don't think this is a book that will have a broad general readership, but that said I do recommend it to fans of Jeanette Winterson as one to add to any collection of her own writing.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these stories, all inspired by operas and collected for the 75th anniversary of the Glyndebourne festival, are clever or charming or thoughtful or all three. I especially enjoyed jackie Kay's "First Lady of Song," which reimagines the title character of The Makropulos Case. Others--like Andrew O'Hagan's "First Snow"--seem to have been written without much knowledge of the operas or composers they cite, and that's a pity. My copy, at least, also has numerous typos, which don't much help convince me that much thought or careful editing went into the contents.

[Miki · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories dedicated to opera. Some of them are adaptations of a specific piece, others use operas ad background or leit motif, others only vaguely refer to operas. Most of them are quite surprising and intriguing, thrilling or moving.
As a bonus, luckily for the less expert, all operas referred to in the stories are summarised and briefly explained in an appendix at the end of the volume.

[Pamster]

Read 4 stories: Ali Smith, Jeanette Winterson, Marina Warner, Kate Atkinson. I don't know dick about opera, but that was okay. Opera fans should love love love this. The Winterson story was breathtakingly lovely. All new stories from some awesome authors. At one point I was flipping through and saw a passage about lemony sperm, which terrified me.

Read for work.

[Shelly Dennison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of stories inspired by operas but wasn't too taken with the results. Most authors took a very literal view of the idea and often had characters who were involved with opera in some way which allowed parallel narratives. The most successful broke way from this mould and were inspired in a more abstract way. Very mixed bag.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historias que recrean argumentos de ópera o que recuerdan óperas o que rememoran el ambiente de la ópera.
Una propuesta interesante ... para aquellos que no conocen los argumentos, en un anexo al final de libro presenta una sinopsis.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth picking up. I do not know much about opera so I may have missed a few points but the stories are all very good. Note the guide to the operas in the back. Didn't realize it was there until the end.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

mixed, there were some of the short stories I really enjoyed, others meant nothing to me. A book of short stories based on opera plots with a twist

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Grimes, Pearl Fishers, Turn of the Screw - All great stories.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only finished a third of the stories in this collection. The book was an interesting idea, it just didn't quite work.