This manual is designed to be a single source for answering questions which may occur in bringing the production of an opera to the stage; questions such as "How many clarinets are in the orchestra?", "How many orchestra members appear onstage?", "What is the usual running time?", and "Are any special effects or ballet choreography required?". This and other information, such as who owns the rights and when the opera was premiered, is provided for more than 550 operas - the guide may serve equally as a companion for opera-lovers.
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The answers to thousands of questions about more than 560 operas can be found in The Da Capo Opera Manual, by Nicholas Ivor Martin. It's a book that will find its way to the shelves of opera impresarios, set designers, music directors, and production managers in opera houses ranging from the world class to the amateur. Directors of opera workshops will find the manual handy for narrowing down which shows might accommodate their student forces but won't overstrain their school's technical capacity. Opera lovers interested in knowing more about the art form will find it useful as well.
Each opera's listing includes the number of locations (and therefore sets) in which the story takes place; the number of acts and scenes; the approximate length; the major arias; "hazards" ("unusually difficult stage business, such as the destruction of the universe, singers transformed into frogs, or buildings falling on people's heads"); scenes (and where they take place); categorization of roles as "major," "minor," or "bit" ("necessarily subjective"); chorus parts; chorus roles; dance/movement; orchestra; stage band (backstage instrumentalists); who publishes the score; and rights (if it's in public domain). Each listing also includes a précis of the story line.
Operas are listed alphabetically by title, and there are also indices by composer and librettist. One particularly handy feature is a listing of arias, done alphabetically and by voice part. This is a reference work, but once you pick it up you're apt to find yourself staying with it, and straying to check out adjacent listings. "Indispensable" is an oft-overused word for books that purport to give readers the whole scoop on a given subject, but in this case it's fully justified.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Second Helping,
By
This review is from: The Da Capo Opera Manual (Paperback)
Several years after buying this book, I find that I still turn to it first when examining the details of an Opera. It if really is out of print (and I think Amazon is wrong on this point), than it is a criminal shame. This is one of those books that EVERY singer, accompanist, or Opera Lover should have in their library. The only major downside is that it is not available in a hardbound edition.
5.0 out of 5 stars
I suspect that an editor is responsible for an error .,
By Joe McLellan (senhal@aol.com) (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Da Capo Opera Manual (Paperback)
The error cited above by "Coloratura" from San Francisco reminded me of a similar problem I encountered years ago. Reviewing a recital by Renata Scotto for the Washington Post, I mentioned that she had sung "O mio babbino caro." Obviously, an editor thought I had misspelled "bambino" and made a "correction." So instead of being addressed to her beloved daddy, the aria--in this review as in Martin's book--was addressed to her beloved baby. Martin's book is unique in its thoroughness and its totally professional, no-nonsense approach to opera, a book by a man on the production end of the art; a book of special interest and value to those involved in making opera happen. It should not be allowed to stay out of print.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good resource!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Da Capo Opera Manual (Paperback)
As a classical voice student, this is the only book I look to when my teacher mentions a work that I'm unfamiliar with. I have found only one error, and that is in Puccini's Gianni Schicci, Mr. Martin calls Lauretta's aria "O Mio Bambino Caro". The title should be "O Mio Babbino Caro". Call me picky, but there's a big difference in translation.
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