New York, NY, Estados Unidos : Random House, 1994.

xv, 959 p. ; 24 cm.

The guide and how to use it. -- Behind the curtain. -- The operas. -- Operatica. -- The composers. -- Artists. - Conductors. - Singers. -- Words words, words. -- Friends, supporters, colleagues and minders. -- Index. --

Tomado de la solapa: "Opera has long had the reputation of being elitist and intimidating, but Sir Denis Forman's A Night at the Opera demonstrates that this need not be so. Dispensing with convention, he has written an encyclopedic handbook that can be enjoyed by experts and newcomers alike. His style is refreshingly irreverent, making this hugely informative guide a positive pleasure to read. Sir Denis has dissected the eighty-three most popular operas recorded on compact disc, from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur to Mozart's Die Zauberflote. For each opera, Sir Denis details the plot and the cast of characters, explaining the story clearly and concisely. He shows what to expect minute by minute, and uses stars to call attention to parts that are "worth looking out for," "really good," or, occasionally, "stunning." He goes on to explain the historical circumstances of their writing and how they were received at the time. Finally, each work is graded from alpha to gamma (although the Ring cycle gets an "X"), and Sir Denis is not afraid to voice his opinion: the first act of Fidelio is "a bit of a mess," while he lauds Così fan tutte for having the most perfect structure of any opera. Beyond the operas themselves, Sir Denis offers brief biographies of the great composers, conductors, and artists. There is a glossary of musical terms, as well as a list of all the elements that make an opera such a special musical and theatrical experience, from the proper place and style of the audience's applause (and boos) to the use of surtitles. All of the information and opinions are presented in a lively and amusing way. A Night at the Opera will entertain and inform, delight and (perhaps) infuriate, providing a subject for lively debate and ready reference for years to come."