This is an opera reference covering four volumes, with over 1300 contributions. The 11,000 articles are cross-referenced and deal with all of the varied aspects of the operatic experience, from the composer, librettist and their cultural background, through singers, conductors and directors, to cities, opera houses, costume, choreography and set design. The dictionary features: over 1750 articles on operas; over 2500 articles on singers and conductors; over 3000 articles on composers; more than 400 articles on cities; and further articles covering producers, designers, patrons and impressarios, and history and terminology of opera. The work includes indices of character names and first lines of arias and ensembles.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Although not for every opera lover (or every opera lover's budget), this massive four-volume set--each volume coming in at around 1,300 pages--is indispensable for the opera educator, writer, or major fanatic. While in any encyclopedia the quality of writing and the critical viewpoint must of necessity be somewhat varied, the standards in the Grove series of reference works are always high and the level of usefulness enormous. Almost any opera that debuted before 1992 is to be found within these pages, making it especially useful in this age of obscure revivals; most singers of any note who had established careers before that date are also included. Although somewhat Anglocentric in its inclusions, this remains an invaluable reference work.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
This final set developed from The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ( LJ 12/15/80) covers all aspects of the modern Western opera tradition, including composers, performers, directors, companies, stagecraft, theaters, cities, terms, and individual works. It follows the format of the mother set, with 10,000 signed articles by 1300 opinionated specialists, plentiful cross references, black-and-white illustrations, and secondary bibliographies attached to most of the entries. Composer listings contain detailed information on specific works; articles on individual operas normally include lengthy plot summaries, dramatis personae, and performance history; performer entries are generally limited to one paragraph and are often less than illuminating. Volume 4 concludes with appendixes of role names (e.g., Radames) and first lines. The editor claims that 80 to 90 percent of the material is newly written since the 1980 set; a spot check reveals many unique articles, particularly on contemporary composers (e.g., Michael Nyman) and their works. The expected British bias is evident, most notably in the column inches devoted to composers and cities (New York receives seven pages, London 38). For overall breadth of scholarship, however, no other work approaches this, although The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia edited by David Hamilton ( LJ 1/88), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera edited by John Warrack and Ewan West (Oxford, 1992), and The Encyclopedia of Opera edited by Leslie Orrey and Gilbert Chase (Scribner, 1976) are all serviceable single-volume guides. Highly recommended as the core opera reference work for all academic and public libraries. -- Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the realm of academe,
By A Customer
This review is from: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera: 4 volumes (Paperback)
The short & sweet of it: this four-volume set is the most comprehensive collection of information about composers, librettists, major singers, and of course, *operas* I have ever encountered. Not for the faint of heart or the casual fan. Within, you will find such goodies as: historical information (place/date of debut, librettist, commissioned by..., compositional style/process, reaction of the public, etc.), role names + voice part, historical photographs, extensive plot summaries, musical examples, orchestration, and a musicological commentary on the opera, most often in the context of the composer's larger body of works. But the best is yet to come, my friends - each entry includes a comprehensive bibliographical listing of major studies done on each opera, composer, singer, or librettist. A great place to start when researching a role, studying for a test, or preparing for a paper.The only weakness in this volume is that one only reads of aria titles. If you are looking for an aria to sing, or in-depth information on a particular aria, you may not find a lot of reference to it here. But, the book will provide much context for your study, and this volume will point you toward a plethora of valuable resources regarding your aria. Who should own this book: the scholar, the enthusiast, and the serious performer.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The New Grove Dictionary of Opera 4 volumes,
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This review is from: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera: 4 volumes (Hardcover)
Always the standard of scholarship. Outstanding seller, books in mint condition, superb packing and fast shipping. Thank you!
4 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I need to ask a queston..,
By A Customer
This review is from: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera: 4 volumes (Hardcover)
Do you have the new Grove Dictionary of Opera in paperback? I cannot find anywhere to ask a question. Thanks
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