A Short History of Opera

by Donald Jay Grout, Hermine Weigel Williams

When first published in 1947, A Short History of Opera immediately achieved international status as a classic in the field. Now, more than five decades later, this thoroughly revised and expanded fourth edition informs and entertains opera lovers just as its predecessors have.

The fourth edition incorporates new scholarship that traces the most important developments in the evolution of musical drama. After surveying anticipations of the operatic form in the lyric theater of the Greeks, medieval dramatic music, and other forerunners, the book reveals the genre's beginnings in the seventeenth century and follows its progress to the present day.

A Short History of Opera examines not only the standard performance repertoire, but also works considered important for the genre's development. Its expanded scope investigates opera from Eastern European countries and Finland. The section on twentieth-century opera has been reorganized around national operatic traditions including a chapter devoted solely to opera in the United States, which incorporates material on the American musical and ties between classical opera and popular musical theater. A separate section on Chinese opera is also included.

With an extensive multilanguage bibliography, more than one hundred musical examples, and stage illustrations, this authoritative one-volume survey will be invaluable to students and serious opera buffs. New fans will also find it highly accessible and informative. Extremely thorough in its coverage, A Short History of Opera is now more than ever the book to turn to for anyone who wants to know about the history of this art form.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction, Reference, Art

1042 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1965

Reviews

[Ryan Bassette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broad and comprehensive? Yes. Grout delves deep into the most obscure from each of the represented periods; a hefty chunk of the operas mentioned don't even have singular performances extant (and yes, I checked on many/most). I came away with a greater appreciation for just how much opera has been, and continues to be, written.

And therein lies my critique: the book reads a bit like an appendix, ad nauseum recitation of who wrote what, dense with dates and locales, loads of musical examples --typically without specific musical context, literally just an arbitrary example from a work/composer -- strewn about. Despite this, it isn't quite encyclopedic either, as the author might spend only a single paragraph on the reader's favorite composer, even failing to mention that one opera his/her/they entire operatic imagination hinges upon beyond mere passing.

So I came away, mind stuffed with names of lesser known composers of opera and intriguing titles I will likely never have the pleasure of hearing/seeing, and a genuine appreciation for the depth and breadth of the sport, but a compelling historic narrative of opera as a distinct genre this was not. Ultimately, Grout tries to check too many boxes and genuinely fails to fully serve any of them effectively.

Better for having stuck through it, but a tedious slog it was -- and this coming from a passionate lover of opera.

[Loesje · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels like a mini encyclopedia. A lot of information crammed in 500 pages (the remainder of the book is bibliography).

I think this book is for lot of people not a good fit. But if you are a singer studying opera aria´s like the Ariae Antiche, and are looking for background information about forgotten opera´s to which they belong, then this might be a usefull resource. I found it hard to find information about as a lot of those opera´s haven´t been performed any longer, and just the aria is still well known.

The book also explained the different opera styles during the century and the differences between opera in several countries.

It is almost like a textbook

[Valerie Denney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my Opera Literature. Informative and must for anyone trying to understand the world and history of opera.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a reference book, this Grout/Williams text can be a good addition to a musician/scholar's bookshelf; however, as a classroom textbook I do not recommend it. While I am in no doubt that the research is comprehensive, there is too much information to cover in sixteen weeks. The book, A Short History of Opera is in its fourth edition and is neither short nor an exhaustive history of opera.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and detailed account of the history of opera. Complete with musical examples and the story of the development of an art form. I would only recommend this for people who are seriously trying to learn everything they possibly can about opera history. Probably best saved for reading in a college course.

[Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a class, but I think it would be an excellent reference book for any opera enthusiast to read a chapter or two before seeing something new. I do not recommend trying to read it through because it is close to a thousand pages and much of it is not relevant to the modern opera viewer other than for context. But this is a very thoroughly researched text and I learned a lot from it.

[Tamsyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had sold this book back to the bookstore before it was outdated. But since I didn't, I'll keep it and use it as a resource.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for my Theaters Arts class. Not quite my thing, but it was educational and different.