The New Grove Book of Operas - Tapa dura

Over 250 operas are described in this book, most of which have been performed in the major opera houses of the English-speaking world since the 1970s. A handful of additional works have been selected by Stanley Sadie - operas that lend themselves to CD recording or festival revival. The operas are listed in alphabetical order. In addition to a full synopsis of every plot, there is a cast list and a note of the singers in the original production, as well as information about the origins of the work and its literary and social background. Each contribution concludes with a brief comment on its place in operatic history. There is also a listing by composer, a glossary and indexes of the names of operatic characters and the first line of arias. The illustrations shows how opera has been staged from its beginnings to "deconstructed" productions.