Encyclopedia of American Opera [Hardcover]

Ken Wlaschin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786421096 | ISBN-13: 978-0786421091 | Publication Date: July 6, 2006

This encyclopedia lists, describes and cross-references everything to do with American opera: works (both operas and operettas, including separate entries for the most popular arias), composers, librettists, singers, and source authors, along with relevant recordings. The approximately 1,750 entries range from ballad operas and composers of the 18th century to modern minimalists and video opera artists. Each opera entry consists of plot, history, premiere and cast, followed by a chronological listing of recordings, movies and videos. An introduction provides an excellent overview of the general subject of American opera.

In addition to the operas and the people associated with them, the work includes entries for the American opera companies and for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, listing the dates and venues of all American operas performed there. Illustrations from the author’s extensive collection of music and other materials round out the work.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume's more than 1,700 entries provide a comprehensive look at American opera and operetta from the eighteenth century through works and artists of today. In his introduction, author Wlaschin, director of creative affairs at the American Film Institute and author of The Encyclopedia of Opera on Screen (Yale, 2003), offers a very brief history of American opera, then discusses various compositional styles (e.g., folk opera and avant-garde), composers, and a few important works.

Entries cover composers, operas, and singers who have put America on the world operatic map. Wlaschin employs a fairly broad definition for opera, with entries for a number of works and composers solidly in the world of musical theater. Most music scholars will acknowledge "crossover" works such as Porgy and Bess and West Side Story as operas, but few would class The King and I or The Sound of Music in the same genre despite their high musical quality and vocally demanding roles. The assertion that some opera singers have recorded songs from Broadway musicals may not be a sufficient reason for their inclusion in a reference work that otherwise covers very well the works and performers of the American opera stage.

The volume is distinguished from similar ones by offering entries for individual arias and opera companies. Each state also receives an entry that focuses on opera companies, operatic history, and important works and premieres associated with it. Within each entry for operatic works, the author includes valuable information about audio and video recordings, cast listings, and premiere dates.

There are many dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other histories of opera available, with the late Stanley Sadie being largely responsible for two of the most prominent: the four-volume New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992) and The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Opera (2004). Both of these works present a comprehensive history of opera, from its ancient beginnings to the time of their publications. The American focus, currency, and state entries of Wlaschin's work make it unique among these giants of the opera reference world and worth a look from public and academic libraries alike. Steven York
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Comprehensive...unique" --Booklist/RBB

"Excellent" --Arba

"Highly recommended" --Reference Reviews --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 486 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers (July 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786421096
• ISBN-13: 978-0786421091
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,001,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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