A compilation of critical comments about “every complete recording made of
150 operas” by 71 composers. Although a few early sets were overlooked, this
is the most thorough list of its kind. The 20 reviewers (British and American)
quoted offer appraisals that range from sensible to bizarre, in the curious
vocabulary of journalistic opera criticism. Expansive index of all the perform-
ers. The same author and publisher also issued The Metropolitan Opera Guide
to Opera on Video(1997; xvi, 483p. ISBN 0-393-3045-366. ML158.6 .O6),
which describes some 300 videos of about 150 operas, aiming for complete
coverage of American releases. For each item the cast, conductor, and director
are identified, and an evaluation is given. Index to all performers.- Croissant, Charles. Opera Performances in Video Format: A Checklist of
Commercially Released Recordings.MLA Index and Bibliography Series, 26.
Canton, Mass.: Music Library Association, 1991. xv, 121p. ISBN 0-9149-
5443-1. ML1700 .C8.
Covers U.S. releases of videocassettes and laser discs of about 250 works.
Casts are listed, with dates and locations of the recordings and citations to
reviews. Indexes of titles, performers, and sites.
445.Opera on Screen: Ein Projekt in Auftrag des Österreichischen Bundesminis-
teriums für Wissenschaft und Forschung. Vienna: IMZ, [1995?]. No ISBN.
ML128 .O4 O647.
A composer list of some 3,200 entries for operas, operettas, and musicals on
film and video. Bibliographic data are given for each title, with duration, cast,
and date. Title and chronological indexes add to the value of this very useful
compilation.
See also NGDO2, 194–200: “Film,” by Richard Evidon; and Cinema et opéra,a spe-
cial issue of ASO98 (1987).
Opera Recordings and Discography 101