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The Cambridge Companion to Grand Opera (Cambridge Companions to Music)

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This is an important book. French opera in the middle third of the nineteenth century exercised great influence on almost all important operatic works which came after 1830. Now that much of the Wagnerian prejudice against "Grand Opera" has been laid aside and these operas are receiving adequate productions it is time to have a readily accessible study of the questions which their importance occasions. The contributors to this volume, many of them well known to readers with interests in the field, often have conflicting opinions, but the editor keeps things evenhanded. The chapters are generously footnoted. Now that recordings, and even videos, of most of the important works are available commercially and scores, both vocal and orchestral, are available through most libraries, this volume should be required reading for opera enthusiasts.