ABSTRACT

Opera: The Basics offers an excellent introduction to four centuries of opera. Its easy to follow sections explore topics including:

  • the origins of opera
  • basic terminology
  • the history of major opera genres including: serious opera, comic opera, semi-serious opera and vernacular opera.

With key notes, discography and videography, this is the ideal book for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this important musical genre.

part |127 pages

I Terms and Topics

chapter 1|9 pages

The Origins of Opera

chapter 2|24 pages

Musical Terminology

chapter 3|18 pages

Music and Text Relationships

chapter 4|20 pages

Professions

chapter 5|20 pages

Singers

chapter 6|19 pages

Opera Onstage and Off

chapter 7|13 pages

Opera As a Mirror of Society

part |56 pages

II Genres, Styles, and Scores

chapter 9|14 pages

Comic Opera and Operetta

chapter 10|13 pages

Vernacular Opera

chapter 11|6 pages

Scores and Editions

part |16 pages

Resources

part |14 pages

Selected Bibliography