Customer Reviews

New Grove Dict Opera 4 Vol Set Pr

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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.

Always the standard of scholarship. Outstanding seller, books in mint condition, superb packing and fast shipping. Thank you!

Do you have the new Grove Dictionary of Opera in paperback? I cannot find anywhere to ask a question. Thanks