Customer Reviews

100 Great Operas And Their Stories: Act-By-Act Synopses

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book a number of years ago and it has made attendance at both the Metropolitan Opera and NYC Opera that much more rewarding. I have read the few page outlines of each of the operas before attending and thus, at the performance, I follow the highlights of the given opera well. I remember when I once attended "Die Walkure," I spent plenty of time preparing (this was back before they projected the libretto while the opera takes place) and this book's coverage of the Ring cycle in general, and this opera, in particular, was a great starting point for me. I was well prepared to fully appreciate the performance. Even operas I have seen over and over merit a review before attending a performance and this book gives a great review. In addition to a good synopsis of the plot, the book gives interesting facts and histories of the operas covered. This book has been in print for a long time. There is a reason for this .. because it is truly a well written, valuable reference. Purcahsing this book is money well spent.

I owned this book last year when I started to get into opera. I like this book because the background material is interesting, the synopsis of each opera is covered in enough depth to understand what the opera is essentially about, and each synopsis is clear. (Unfortunately, Opera synopsi tend to be confusing and dry in most books.)

However this book only covers 100 operas (as it states in the title.) So, if you are mostly interested in the "Warhorses" such as La Traviata, Turandot, Boris Gudonov, et. al. then this is the book for you. However, don't be surprised if an opera that sounds intriguing that your local opera house is playing or you see at a music store is not represented.

A great collection of the 100 most beloved operas. Very helpful for any aspiring opera singer, such as myself, to dig up interesting information about the background of the opera, the plot, where and when the arias take place, and many interesting factoids about the origin of the librettos and the circumstances under which the composer chose to write the opera. An absolute must-have for an opera lover!!!

100 Great Operas and Their Stories greatest virtue is the number of things it doesn't contain. Among the missing: a list of great preformances, a list of opera singer who have performed the rolls, the usually rating system, and of course the almost obligatory rating/list of available CDs. It contains exactly what its title says -- the stories of the great operas. A list of the cast, a very short background history and the story of the opera act by act. The experienced opera goers can refresh themselves in a few minutes. The novice can find out what its all about in the same time. Also, you can slip the book into your pocket and take it along to the opera for a quick revue before the overture begins.

I have used this book for many years as a quick reference for studying operas that are new to me, and for that purpose, the book is excellent. Even though the book is limited to 100 entries, I usually find the opera I want to study. My main complaint about this book is the amount of "editorializing" offered by Mr. Simon. He is certainly an expert in opera, but he makes his personal likes and dislikes clear (perhaps the reason why some obscure operas are included...?). He offended me when he described Puccini's masterpiece, La Fanciulla del West, as a "tired" and "second-rate" Italian opera. Many times he crosses the line from well-educated informant to opinionated critic. That said, his writing is very readable and even humorous at times. I simply advise readers to be aware that this book is not entirely a reporting of facts.

I took an intrest in Opera and wanted to discover more about it. To my dismay, when I read reviews in the papers, I found nearlly nothing of value because they never did the simple job of brifely explaining what the story was actual about. That's why this book is great; it gives a brief summary of what the Opera is about act by act. Thus, this guide is a great tool to find a story that you like; however, one should still look into a local review of an Opera to see how the singers perform and the rendition is done; this book gives reviews in the general.

This is a great book for the opera novice or seasoned opera affectionado. Going to an upcoming opera? Reading the synopsis will refresh one's memory or help the novice to better understand what is going on by acts. This is a well written book and a true bargain for the extensive information provided. I have purchased one for myself and another for a friend. A great gift book!

I am new to opera but have fallen hard for it! I watched my first opera only 4 months ago at the Met Opera's live transmission in a movie theater. Since then I have watched over 20 operas online and this book has been an essential part of my understanding. My copy already has a bunch of sticky notes and comments written in it.

What to expect from this book:
-Character names (helps you keep everybody straight in those operas with big casts)
-General background information (setting time and place, first performance date, who wrote the music and libretto, and the literature it is based when applicable)
-Some background information about the opera, its creation, its composer and/or librettist(s)
-Act-by-act synopses that help you follow or prepare for the plot
-Brief historical notes when applicable
-Some very light criticism of the score or libretto (I found this insightful and overall agreed with his comments

What NOT to expect from this book:
-Biographies of composers or librettists
-In depth analysis of theme, political or historical context
-Advice about which operas are worth your time and which to skip
-Reviews of peformances or singers
-Reviews of recordings

So basically, this is a good bare-bones book that will get you the information you need to understand the plots. Whether you just always wondered what Aida was about or you are preparing to see a production in person or on video, this guide will be a good addition to your experience. It seems like with 100 operas, you'd find every one you'd want to see and that is overall true but there have been one or two that I was interested in but were not included, including newer operas (no problem - use the web). The writing has not aged AT ALL surprisingly enough. I completely recommend this book.

A wonderful book on 100 popular operas. Detailed synopsis of each act. Must have for opera history or general opera study.

I knew very little about operas because Herman would never take me to one. I love the music but I wanted to know more about the actual opera and the characters in them. I selected this book because it appears to have all the information one would need to understand and enjoy an opera. It goes so far as to give you the character's vocal ranges and some history on the librettos to boot. This book is timeless, just like me!