Synopsis
"The Rough Guide to Opera" is the definitive handbook on the subject, spanning nearly four centuries from Monteverdi to the avante-garde. Features include:
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Review
As an entry into the Rough Guide canon, Opera: The Rough Guide offers a slightly breezy approach to the art form, along with a touch of attitude and a tendency toward British idioms. Like its sibling Classical Music on CD: The Rough Guide, it gives brief biographies of composers, plot outlines of significant works, and recommendations for which recordings are best. Oddly, the book takes a number of strange stabs at politically incorrect figures of the past--comparing Wagner to Hitler because of their shared vegetarian eating habits--and makes some downright erroneous statements: Maria Callas was never a student of Rosa Ponselle at all, much less her "most famous student."
Most of the recordings recommended are fine, though there is a limit on how many compact discs are suggested for any given opera (the maximum seems to be three each), and the authors have a strong prejudice in favor of older recordings. These have the advantage of being generally cheaper and often offer great singing, but the sound is usually far superior on more recent releases, and accurate chorus work is a rarity on many vintage sets. Bearing that in mind, this is a useful volume for someone building an opera collection or learning more about the art form. It might be useful to consult this volume, along with other guides, before investing a lot of money in opera CDs. --Sarah Bryan Miller
About the Author
Matthew Boyden is one of Britain's most hard-hitting music writers. He also makes regular appearances on television and radio.
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The Rough Guide to Opera : A Complete Guide to the Operas, Composers, Artists and Recordings
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Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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The Rough Guide to Opera (2nd Edition)
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The Rough Guide to Opera (2nd Edition)
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The Rough Guide to Opera
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Rough Guides 28/10/1999, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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Rough Guide to Opera, 2nd Edition
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Rough Guides December 1999, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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The Rough Guide to Opera (2nd Edition)
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Opera The Rough Guide
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Rough guides LTD, Auckland Newzealand, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Has small brown mark from pages 646-650.Has Directory of conductors, glossary, index, and directory of singers a handbook on the most thrilling of art forms, opera. Seller Inventory # TBB140311-9
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The Rough Guide to Opera
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APA Publications, United Kingdom, London, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This guide to opera has biographies of 150 composers, descriptions of hundreds of operas, reviews of CDs, a who's who of the recorded opera singers, from the very prominent to the more obscure, and a directory of opera houses across the world. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001665899
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The Rough Guide to Opera
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ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
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The Rough Guide to Opera : A Complete Guide to the Operas, Composers, Artists and Recordings
Published by
Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated, 1999
ISBN 10: 1858284562
ISBN 13: 9781858284569
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
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Condition: Very Good. 2nd Edition. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # GRP17447068
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