Aria

About the Book

This is the love story of Consuella, a young girl from the convent in Verona, and Antonio, a dashing young man from Milan. While visiting his former teacher and mentor, Father Martine, in Verona, Antonio is persuaded by his teacher to stay for a special celebration in the monastery chapel. Father Martine’s objective is to make sure Antonio hears a young Consuella singing in the choir. On hearing her voice, he immediately recognises her special gift. After much persuasion, Antonio brings her to Milan; she takes the opera world by storm. Over the next two years, they fall in love. Antonio’s dearest wish is to marry Consuella. He returns to Verona to seek her father’s consent. During his absence, Don Barcese, an influential figure in the opera community, begins to cause mischief. He promises Consuella that, under his management, she will become the most famous opera star in the world. By the time Antonio returns, the damage is already done.

About the Author

Brendan Bracken was born in Dublin, Ireland. He is an engineer and pharmacy consultant. His son and daughter, Gregory and Audrey Bracken, have had many books published, mainly to do with travel in places as far away as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai. Brendan inherited his love of opera from his mother, Theresa Bracken. At a very young age, she brought him to many operatic performances. In adulthood, Brendan was able to achieve his ambition. He attended an operatic performance of Tosca in the famous Arena Verona in Italy. Over the following years, he made many journeys to Verona. It was during these trips he developed the idea for the novel Aria, an operatic love story set mainly in Italy during the early part of the twentieth century. Currently, Brendan resides between Ireland and Jakarta, Indonesia.