Opera

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.