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Opera The Rough Guide
 
 

Opera The Rough Guide (Paperback)

by Unknown (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: Rough Guides; 1 ed edition (1995)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1858281385
  • ISBN-13: 978-1858281384
  • Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 16.5 x 3.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,516,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Synopsis
This guide to opera spans nearly four centuries, from Monteverdi to the avant-garde. The chapters are chronologically ordered, giving an overview of the period and introducing the main figures. It follows with accounts of the key composers and their operas, discussing the social and musical context in which they worked. The book includes reviews of the best CDs, a who's who of the best singers on record, and biographies. It also contains a directory of opera houses throughout the world, with full booking details and tips on what they do best.

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential book for building your opera collection, 26 Jul 2001
By A Customer
If you are new to opera, this book is essential. The rough guide goes through the opera from Monteverdi to the 20th century and gives you the summeries, commentaries and recommendations of various works in a very informative manner. I particularly enjoyed the explanation for why each of the recordings was recommended, and I found the choices much more sensible than say, in the Penguin Opera Guide. There are some controversial choices (I doubt you will find any other book recommending Te Kanawa's Boheme recording), and mistakes (Callas never sang Simon Boccanegra), but this is expected from a book with such a wide compass. Even for those of us who have been listening to opera for quite some time, this book can bring something new. For example, if you have been enjoying Berg and Britten, but would like to know more about the pieces written after their works, you will find wonderful discussions about Menotti, Adams or Cage. Particularly well covered are the recent British composers. Highly recommended!
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A useful guide for the general opera-goer, 11 Dec 2001
By A Customer
The Rought Guide contains less historical and musical detail than Kobbe, but its synopses are easier to understand and it also provides a useful explanation of why and how the composer came to write the piece as he did. The CD performance reviews are practical and useful. Probably too superficial for the serious student but just right for the first-timer.
Tony B
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A real investment, 23 Mar 2004
This isn't a 'heavyweight' book, but for a casual admirer of opera such as myself, Boyden has pitched the level of detail just right. I have bought almost fifty sets on the strength of his first/second choice recommendations (I am not a fan of historic mono recordings, I am afraid) and have found little to quibble with.

You will find the text informative, reliable and -- over time -- indispensable. I have read mine to pieces, and look forward to a new edition if only so as not to have a flurry of pages falling on to my knees every time I open it (a sign of over-use rather than poor binding!)

Buy without hesitation.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars ROUGH and READY
This guide, with its ill-judged, hasty dismissal of certain great artists and excessive praise for lesser ones, will certainly not please any opera buff: the synopses and notes... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Nemo

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