Eyewitness Companions: Opera

Book is visually interesting with great tidbits about the composers and their processes and lives.

It appears that I have become addicted to two book series--"The American Presidents" and "Eyewitness Companions." This work, "Opera," by Alan Ridings and Leslie Dunton-Downer, provides a solid introduction to the world of opera. This volume begins by asking what an opera actually is. Simply put (Page 15): "Accompanied by an orchestra, with scenery, costumes, and light adding drama, singers tell a story." Not a bad definition! Further (Page 15), ". . .opera's special appeal lies in the voice, arguably the most affecting of all instruments." The book progresses as follows: librettos and librettists, staging, opera houses and festivals. The great opera houses include La Scala in Italy, the Paris Opera in France [at Palais Garnier], Staatsoper Wien in Austria, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and so on. Then follows a discussion of the sometimes larger than life singers themselves. Here, one can always wonder why some singers were singled out for mention and others not, but that is something that comes with the territory of such books. Then, perhaps the heart of the book. A brief discussion of well known operas organized both geographically and by time period (a bit awkward)takes up the largest amount of space in this book. Italian opera? "Il Trovatore," one of Verdi's best works, is summarized on pages 172 and 173. German opera? Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold" is highlighted on pages 230 and 231. Not much detail nor much evaluation of the operas described, but there is a brief summary of many operas. This is, I think, an advantage to those who are on a learning curve with opera. Contemporary opera? John Adams' "Nixon in China" on pages 418 and 419. So, there are some questions one can raise about the book (see above). Nonetheless, for those who want to begin learning more about opera, this is one solid starting point.

A great find!! The book is full of information and has great pictures. I truly love this book.

Excellent overview for new comers to opera or as a resource for those who have seen many operas.

Their guide to Shakespeare is amazing and so is their book on opera. I can hold my own in any conversation, as long as I have forty minutes advance warning so I can turn to the relevant chapter. It is all there. The explanations are clear and the insights original. The illustrations make it all make sense----even to the noviates like myself. The layout seems familiar.....but what is it like, besides the teams Shakespeare book. It doesnt intimidate. It is easy to plunge in. The perfect book for the expert and the name dropper or the person who wants to be prepared for every allusion. A great great gift. elsa dorfman