The Dictionary of the Opera [Hardcover]

Charles Osborne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1983

The International opera authority, Charles Osborne, is renowned throughout the world for his writing, broadcasting and lecturing on opera. With nearly 300 composers and 800 singers, as well as conductors, producers, set designers, librettists, and others, this book provides authoritative comments by the author on composers.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 382 pages
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster (1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671492187
• ISBN-13: 978-0671492182
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,355,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars meh, September 30, 2011

By 

Brent Fuller - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dictionary of the Opera (Paperback)

I suppose if you're really new to opera, or would like to have a book around to quote definitions from this is a good book to have around, however as someone who is a step above neophyte and a (few) step(s) below expert, there are rare words in the book I couldn't give you the definition to without the book. There is a serious lack of musical terms in the book too. It's been a while since I've looked, but I don't think for instance the word portamento is in the book, which does seem like somewhat of an oversight.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best short guide to the opera, May 25, 2001

By 

Charles L. DeFanti Jr. "Professor Emeritus of... (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dictionary of the Opera (Paperback)

This small, inexpensive reference work, revised and updated by Professor Jack Kamerman, is enlivened by Osborne's wit and a wonderful trove of photographs. For the specialist and non-specialist, this is the first place to turn.