|
The Grove Book of Operas | 
 enlarge | Creators: Stanley Sadie, Laura Macy
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $15.00
You Save: $24.95 (62%)
New (25) Used (10) from $15.00
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 60441
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 2
Pages: 784
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.9
ISBN: 0195309073
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.103
EAN: 9780195309072
ASIN: 0195309073
Publication Date: November 6, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
The cover blurb calls iThe New Grove Book of Operas/i, "The world's definitive single volume of opera reference," and for once the hype is right on the money. The plot synopses are well done, with musical notes and historic background, some nice illustrations, and three very useful appendices: a fine and complete glossary; an index of role names; and an "Index of Incipits," or first lines, for hundreds of arias, choruses, and ensembles. This may well be the best English-language opera reference available.
Product Description
First published in 1996 to great critical and popular acclaim, the Grove Book of Operas, is a collection of synopses and descriptions of over 250 operas. Each succinct yet insightful entry is written by a leading authority on the opera and includes a full synopsis of the plot, a cast list, a note on the singers in the original production, and information on the origins of the work and its literary and social background. Contributions conclude with a brief comment on the particular work's place in operatic history. A glossary offers brief and accessible definitions of terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader. And indices of role names and of arias and ensembles allow the reader to find operas containing their favorite aria or a well-known character. br The second edition brings the book up to date with several recently composed operas and a fascinating introductory essay by David Levin on opera performance in the 21st century. Recent additions to the operatic repertory included for the first time in this edition include Nicholas Maw, Sophie's Choice; Poul Ruders, A Handmaid's Tale; John Adams, Death of Klinghoffer; and Mark Adamo, Little Women.br Covering all operas in the current repertory along with some less-well-known early and very modern ones, this is an ideal volume for the general opera lover.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 A good source for opera plots and history October 28, 2007
A. BOSS (Mountainside, NJ United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Although this book does not cover many less popular operas (the Grove encyclopedia of Operas is much more complete), it does cover around 250 operas, giving history, premier information, and the plots.
Oh, really?! June 29, 2007
Henry Thoreau (Olathe, KS United States)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
The prior "customer reviewer" wrote a great review in MOST respects. HOWEVER, he stated the following: br / br /"I own both, and while the Book borrows some material from the Dictionary, most of the entries have been modified to reach a broader audience." br / br /Huh?! I, too, own Grove's four-volume edition. And, as I randomly select and compare any of its "opera" entries with the analogous entries in this smaller, single-volume edition (a copy of which I've checked out from my public library), I see, again and again, that virtually all such entries are roughly "98% IDENTICAL". In other words, virtually all of the entries (i.e., opera synopses with commentaries) that ARE included in this single-volume edition were (almost) simply copied VERBATIM from the four-volume edition. That's not a bad thing, but just don't be misled by the above-quoted remark from that other reviewer. br / br /So, why would anybody ever bother buying the MUCH costlier four-volume edition? Well, it depends on your needs. If ALL you need are "story synopses" and commentaries for the approximately 250 operas that happen to be included here, then look no further. br / br /But if you want coverage of Berlioz' "Damnation of Faust" (not to mention "hundreds and hundreds" of still less popular yet noteworthy operas--a goodly number of which are available as CD recordings, new or used), you won't find it here. Moreover, this edition includes ONLY opera synopses and commentaries, not biographies of the composers or discussions of operatic terms, performers, venues, techniques, and much else. br / br /My own justification for considering purchasing the single-volume "Book" edition [specifically, its 1997 "first-edition" version (whose "more tastefully restrained" cover art, and many of whose color illustrations, I happen to prefer to those of this 2006 edition)] is that it could prove handy, now and again, to have this much more wieldy book at hand while I'm casually lounging and preparing to view an opera DVD. (This hardcover book is about 9.5 inches tall and weighs "only" about 3 pounds four ounces. By contrast, EACH softcover volume of the complete "Dictionary" edition is significantly taller, wider and thicker; and the weight is about 6.5 pounds!) br / br /If you just can't afford the four-volume Grove "Dictionary" edition but you'd like succinct synopses for far more than just "250" operas, consider either "The NEW Penguin Opera Guide" (specifically the "2001" edition!) OR, better still, its original 1993 incarnation, namely, "The Viking Opera Guide" (IF you can find the latter for a reasonable price via the used-book market!). I happen to own the "Viking," too, btw. br / br /If you're still unsure which book to buy, well, compare and contrast all these books at your nearest public library branch that has happens to have 'em.
 The Best One Stop Shop November 19, 2004
Florestan (Chicago, IL)
67 out of 67 found this review helpful
The New Grove Book of Operas is the best single-volume opera reference available in English. The term "reference" deserves careful emphasis. The New Grove Book does not read like a textbook, and is best suited for individuals seeking details about specific operas rather than opera in general. It is to some extent the "Reader's Digest" version of the massive New Grove Dictionary of Opera, which is acknowledged as the end-all, be-all tome of operatic scholarship. I own both. While the Book borrows the bulk of its material from the Dictionary, its scope is less ambitious. Only entries relating to specific operas are included, and the "Book" focuses (mostly) on operas that might appeal to opera enthusiasts and not merely specialists. br / br /PROS: br /* Thoughtful selection of operas. The truly greats, and should-be greats are mostly here, and the inaccessible and and never-will-be-accessible are mostly not here br /* User-friendly organization br /-operas are listed alphabetically br /-includes an index of operas by composer br /-includes an index of role names to operas br /-includes a surprisingly comprehensive index of incipits/arias to operas br /* Provides illustrations, many in color, of historical as well as modern productions br /* Entries read like listening notes rather than mere plot synopses. Overtures and motifs are described and linked to plot elements br /* Entries provide comprehensive history of composition and first performance br /* Entries include a detailed dramatis personae including vocal ranges and, where applicable, alternate translations of role names br /* Contributors widely considered to be the pre-eminent scholars in the operas / composers they survey br / br /CONS br /* Compilation format from multiple contributors creates some inconsistency in the style and accessibility of entries br /* Entries tend to be more technical than in comparable guides br /* Many entries lack specific recommendations as to good recordings, singers, or conductors br /* All entries are opera specific. There is no background material on opera in general, individual composers, genres, or historical periods br / br /Readers who categorically loathe the "notes" found in playbills at the symphony or the opera should look elsewhere. If plot summaries will suffice, I recommend John Freeman's 2-volume "The Metropolitan Opera Stories of the Great Operas" series. His entries are less technical, and are in most cases easier to follow. One disadvantage of that set is that the selection of operas and background material are Met-specific. br / br /I believe most readers will find this volume indispensable as either a season companion or to launch/manage a recording collection at home. It is built-to-last and will withstand being frantically thumbed through for many years to come.
|
|
|
|
| |
