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The Standard Operas (Classic Reprint): Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composers; A Handbook
Excerpt from The Standard Operas
Being to give musically uneducated lovers of opera a clear understanding of the works they are likely to hear, and thus heighten their enjoyment. In a word, the operas are described rather than criticised, and the work is presented with as much thorough ness as seemed possible considering the necessarily brief space allotted to each. In the preparation of the Handbook, the compiler acknowledges his indebt edness to Grove's excellent Dictionary of Music for dates and other statistical information and he has also made free use of standard musical works in his library for historical events connected with the per formance and composition of the operas. It only remains to submit this work to opera-goers with the hope that it may add to their enjoyment and prove a valuable addition to their libraries.
Being to give musically uneducated lovers of opera a clear understanding of the works they are likely to hear, and thus heighten their enjoyment. In a word, the operas are described rather than criticised, and the work is presented with as much thorough ness as seemed possible considering the necessarily brief space allotted to each. In the preparation of the Handbook, the compiler acknowledges his indebt edness to Grove's excellent Dictionary of Music for dates and other statistical information and he has also made free use of standard musical works in his library for historical events connected with the per formance and composition of the operas. It only remains to submit this work to opera-goers with the hope that it may add to their enjoyment and prove a valuable addition to their libraries.
385 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1896
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 28, 2023
The classic text covering many of the popular operas of the time in summary and brief analysis. Very useful in those days of listening to opera in another language on the wireless.
February 26, 2013
I have the 1906 version and I always go back to it. It's great to read from front to back too, as I have done. It's just great!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews