The Metropolitan Opera: Stories of the Great Operas

by John W. Freeman

For anyone who has tried to unscramble the plot of Mozart's The Magic Flute by skimming through an illegible synopsis in a rapidly darkening hall, this compact, well-written, well-designed collection of stories of the great operas will be a boon. The book, published jointly by the Metropolitan Opera Guild and W. W. Norton, contains the plots of 150 of the world's most popular operas; there are also short, informative biographies of each of the 72 composers represented, and historical background material pertinent to each work.

The operas included do not reflect an exclusively Metropolitan Opera House repertory, but are truly international. The list, ranging from Argento to Weill, from Adriana Lecouvreur to Werther, is representative of opera composers and their works from sixteenth-century Italy to twentieth-century America. They are drawn not only from the literature in the three major operatic languages--Italian, German, and French--but from the Russian, English, Czech, Hungarian, and Spanish. The operas are arranged alphabetically under the composer's name. An additional index listing all the usual versions of a title (i.e. The Magic Flute, Die Zauberflöte, La Flûte Enchantée) makes access to the material even easier.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Art, Reference

547 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 1984

Reviews

[Varmint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mercifully brief summaries of classic operas.

Raises the interesting question; to what degree are we better off ignorant? Knowing the plot of Die Meistersinger von Numberg in no way helps you appreciate the music. It might even detract from the experience. Could be better off sitting back, letting the music wash over you, and making a story up in your own head.

[Arthur Sperry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book for anyone wishing to read plot summaries of some of the great Operas. Before I see one, I always like to know the story, who the characters are, and what is going on. Then I can sit back and enjoy the music and singing!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work is for those who love opera or those who are curious about the plots of famous operas but really don't want to go watch all of them. Perhaps, you have even seen and opera and still had no idea what the plot was, this book is for you. Though for most, it would be a reference book, used on occasion to answer specific questions, not to read through all the plots. It contains the plots of 150 of the world's most popular operas; there are also short, informative biographies of each of the 72 composers represented, and historical background material pertinent to each work.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful narratives of composer's life and story line of operas staged by MET Opera

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book...concise stories of the great and lesser know operas