The Chronicle of Opera

Covering facts from the opening of La Scala in Milan to the career of Maria Callas and the success of the Three Tenors, this book celebrates four centuries of opera music and performance. It discusses how opera developed from its beginnings, through the 17th-century reforms of Gluck and the classical perfection and wit of Mozart, and the later rise of romanticism, with famous masterworks by composers such as Beethoven, Weber, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi and Wagner. The revolutionary 20th century is covered with the innovations of Berg, Stravinsky and Britten, among others. A comprehensive reference section includes biographies, a timeline, and opera house openings and premieres.