First edition, 1929. A thorough examination of the compositions, along with a
biographical account. For the operas: genesis, program notes, reception. The-
matic catalogue, p. 193–361, and indexes of persons, places, and titles.- Warburton, Ernest. “A Study of Johann Christian Bach’s Operas.” Ph.D. diss.,
U. of Oxford, 1969.
Michael William Balfe (1808–1870)
- Biddlecombe, George. English Opera from 1834 to 1864, with Particular Ref-
erence to the Works of Michael Balfe. Outstanding Dissertations in Music
from British Universities. New York: Garland, 1994. xiii, 351p. ISBN 0-8153-
1436-1. ML1731.4 .B5.
A revision of the author’s Ph.D. dissertation, U. of London, 1990. Chapters 2
and 3 present a useful survey of the English 19th-century libretto. Then there
are historic and analytic chapters on the operas of Balfe, William Vincent Wal-
lace, Julius Benedict, and George Macfarren. Indexed.
Samuel Barber (1910–1981)
- Hennessee, Don A. Samuel Barber: A Bio-Bibliography. Bio-Bibliographies in
Music, 3. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1985. 404p. ISBN 0-313-24026-4.
ML134 .B175 H4.
A biographical section, then a worklist and list of writings about the composer.
There are about 150 entries, mostly brief notices, on the operas. Name index. - Heyman, Barbara B. Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music.New
York: Oxford U.P., 1992. xviii, 586p. ISBN 0-19-506650-2. ML410 .B23 H5.
A valuable biographical narrative, enriched by Heyman’s comments, plus per-
ceptive observations on many of the compositions, with musical examples
from them. Antony and Cleopatra,which was written for the opening of the
new Metropolitan Opera House (1966), was a failure, not performed again
until the 1991–1992 season in Chicago. Barber’s views on the matter are
given, along with a genesis and production account. Vanessa(1958) fared bet-
ter; it is well covered here in 25 pages. Also a brief treatment of A Hand of
Bridge(1959). Worklist, backnotes, index.
Francisco Asenjo Barbieri (1823–1894)
- Casares, Emilio. Francisco Asenjo Barbieri. Madrid: Instituto Completense de
Ciencias Musicales, 1994. 2v. ISBN 84-8048-065-3, 84-8048-80661. ML410
.B259 C373.
A well-documented life and works, bringing out Barbieri’s dramatic concepts
and structural designs. His most renowned works were Jugar con fuego (1851)
and Pan y toros(1864). The composer’s writings are reprinted, including his
important Istoria de la zarzuelaand Crónica y memorias del teatro lírico
español, 1829–63.Worklist, good bibliography of about 150 items, indexes.
Francisco Asenjo Barbieri 109