The National Trust Guide to Great Opera Houses in America - Softcover

Zietz, Karyl Lynn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471144215 ISBN 13: 9780471144212

Publisher: Wiley, 1996

Synopsis

The first and only guide to the history and architecture ofAmerica's famous opera houses

The American opera scene has grown with the country, spawning aproliferation of beautiful and enchanting opera houses. This uniqueguided tour covers almost 100 historical and contemporary operahouses dating from 1765 up to the present--halls such as theAcademy of Music in Philadelphia, the San Francisco Opera House,and the Cullen Theater in Houston.

America's opera houses present an eclectic collection of buildings,from converted warehouses to ornate vaudevillian venues and modernconcrete and glass structures. The National Trust Guide to GreatOpera Houses in America celebrates this dynamic range ofarchitectural types and styles, revealing how European elementswere transformed into a distinctly authentic and vital part ofAmerica's architectural and musical heritage.

Grouped by geographic region, this easy-to-use resource containsimportant historical information on structures--some destroyed aswell as those still standing--including dates, name changes,seating capacity, and more. Many of the buildings featured areNational Historic Landmarks or are listed in the National Registerof Historic Places. Almost 140 vintage and recent photographs bringto life these magnificent buildings and the operatic scenes enactedon their stages.

Whether used as a travel planner or an armchair reference, thisdefinitive book is a must for music and theater enthusiasts,architects, designers, and preservationists--the perfect front rowseat to the dramatic history of opera in America.

About this title

Review:

Those with an interest in opera, in architecture, in public spaces and in our cultural history should find much of interest in this slender volume. It offers breadth of information rather than depth, but makes a good starting point for a more intense investigation -- or enough to answer a basic question. The book is well-organized and easy to use.

From the Publisher:

A renowned expert in the opera world presents a delightful guided tour of historical and contemporary U.S. opera houses dating from 1765 to 1996, along with a captivating history of American opera. The author covers an eclectic array of buildings from the simple and unassuming to the majestic and pretentious, highlighting those which no longer exist as well as those meticulously restored. Includes approximately 140 diverse historic and modern photos of opera houses, scenes, halls, and great moments.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0471144215
• ISBN 13: 9780471144212
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240