Opera Companies of the World: Selected Profiles

(Hardback)

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Presented here are profiles of 139 major opera companies from around the globe, representing 35 countries, from Argentina to Yugoslavia, and including little-known information on opera in the People's Republic of China, Israel, Japan, the Republic of South Africa and Turkey. Briefly noted in an appendix are an additional 24 companies from ten countries, three of them not included in the main section. The profiles provide directory and access information, a survey of the company's history and, wherever possible, a chronological listing of directors and managers, and a concise bibliography for further reference.

Reviews

Although by the editor's own admission this falls a bit short of his ambition to profile every opera company in the world today, it does cover 139 major companies in thirty-five countries and provides brief information on 24 others. Country-by-country and company-by-company, the profiles recount each company's history; discuss the contributions of various artistic directors; explore the vicissitudes of politics, war, and funding; and characterize its present state and the challenges it faces. They vary considerably in length, generally proportionately to the length, complexity, and richness of their respective histories. Some histories, particularly of lower-profile companies in the United States, are based wholly on materials supplied by the companies themselves. Many entries conclude with a brief bibliography; an appendix lists the companies chronologically by founding date. This one-of-a-kind collection of company histories is a welcome addition to the opera reference corpus.-Wilson Library Bulletin
"Although by the editor's own admission this falls a bit short of his ambition to profile every opera company in the world today, it does cover 139 major companies in thirty-five countries and provides brief information on 24 others. Country-by-country and company-by-company, the profiles recount each company's history; discuss the contributions of various artistic directors; explore the vicissitudes of politics, war, and funding; and characterize its present state and the challenges it faces. They vary considerably in length, generally proportionately to the length, complexity, and richness of their respective histories. Some histories, particularly of lower-profile companies in the United States, are based wholly on materials supplied by the companies themselves. Many entries conclude with a brief bibliography; an appendix lists the companies chronologically by founding date. This one-of-a-kind collection of company histories is a welcome addition to the opera reference corpus."-Wilson Library Bulletin

Author Bio

ROBERT H. COWDEN is Professor of Music at San Jose State University. He is the compiler of Instrumental Virtuosi: A Bibliography of Biographical Materials, Concert and Opera Conductors: A Bibliography of Biographical Materials and Concert and Opera Singers: A Bibliography of Biographical Materials (Greenwood Press, 1989, 1987, and 1985, respectively).