The New Grove Book of OperasStanley Sadie This book combines meticulous scholarship with a lightness of touch that will delight the opera-goer. The fascinating illustrations bring an amusing dimension showing how opera has been staged from its beginnings to modern 'deconstructed' productions. The operas are listed in alphabetical order. In addition to a full synopsis of every plot, there is a cast list and a note of the singers in the original production, as well as information about the origins of the work and its literary and social background. Each contribution concludes with a brief comment on its place in operatic history. There is also a listing by composer, a glossary and indexes of the names of operatic characters and the first lines of arias; so if you are not sure which opera Gilda or Agathe, sings in, or are apt to confuse Vespina with Despina, your problem is quickly solved. |
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accompanied Admetus Alcestis appears aria arioso Armide arrives asks ballet baritone baritone tenor bass bass bass bass soprano bass tenor begins Boris cabaletta Carlo cast castrato cavatina character choral chorus composer contralto conventional dance daughter death dramatic duet Elvira ensemble enters Eurydice father Faust final followed French garden Giovanni girls Gluck heard Idomeneus included interlude Iolanta Iphigénie en Aulide Italian Janáček Jenůfa King La Scala leave libretto lovers lyrical Manon marry melody mezzo-soprano motif Mozart Nabucco offstage opening opera Opéra-Comique orchestral Orfeo original Orpheus Otello overture palace Paris performance play prelude première Prince production prologue Puccini recitative repertory reveals revised revival Rigoletto Rossini Scala scene score singers sings solo song soprano soprano soprano soprano tenor stage sung Teatro tells tenor tenor baritone tenor bass tenor soprano tenor tenor Theatre theme three acts tion title role trio Verdi's vocal voice Wagner wife