Grove Book of Operas

The Book of Operas gives you the synopsis of the opera, as well as background information about the opera, including its composer and relevant dates of performances. Indeed, anyone with an interest in opera, I am sure, would find this book highly informative.I hope you find my review helpful.

I’m not a great opera fan; opera for me tends to stop at Mozart. However, I did want a publication that gave me a concise synopsis of plot and story line that covered, not just the most popular pieces, but the less well known works as well. This does it and enables me to select operas that might appeal to me before going out and buying them. It’s also quite good for dipping into at random . Very good.

i was very pleased with this purchase. It only cost £2.42 plus postage and to my surprise it was new. I believe it is a very well-known book of reference and I can see why it is.

Tells you all you want to know about nearly all the operas you are likely to see. A book which should be on every opera lovers bookcase and adds that other dimension to enjoyment of your visits to the opera whether at the theatre or the cinema, and, of course, your dvds...

This is a fantastic book. Lent my first copy to a friend who never returned it. Now I have it again. Great.

An inexpensive guide to all the major works with a full synopsis of the stories that I wanted. Very pleased anid it will give me many hours of pleasure.

Bought as prersent. Just what was wanted

The book distinguishes itself with the unusual inclusion of rare works (eg I DUE FOSCARI), which almost all other guides of the same size totally ignore: it isn't - as the previous reviewer claims - 'leaving out content [ie lesser-known works] that only the most committed afficionado [sic] would demand and actually use'. I just wish that the editorial board got rid of the indices: the 60 pages wasted on merely role names and excerpts could have covered many other unfamiliar operas (eg DIE AEGYPTISCHE HELENA). One slightly bothersome inconsistency is that (for some strange reason) only particular roles are mentioned in connection with their famous interpreters: eg while there are long lists of well-known performers of Parsifal, Brunnhilde, and Wotan, we're not told which singers made parts like Leonora (IL TROVATORE), Don Giovanni, and Falstaff their own. Another inconsistency is that the Introduction focuses only on contemporary production: what about the pre-modern periods? The absence of a discography isn't a disadvantage: like the indices, it is as unnecessary as the missing chronology. But the cover is depressing, so are the accompanying pictures taken from 'updated' productions. Though this is a welcome addition to any opera library, I can't part with KOBBE'S COMPLETE OPERA BOOK (Harewood and Lascelles), THE VIKING OPERA GUIDE (Holden, Kenyon, and Walsh), THE PAN BOOK OF OPERA (Jacobs and Sadie), OPERA GUIDE (Westerman), 50 FAVORITE OPERAS (England), 100 GREAT OPERAS AND THEIR STORIES (Simon), as well as THE OPERA COMPANION and THE COMPANION TO 20th-CENTURY OPERA (Martin).