- Pahlen, Kurt. Oper der Welt.4th ed. Zurich: SV International, 1987. 802p.
ISBN 3-7263-6516-8. ML1700 .P26.
A strong assemblage of data on about 2,500 operas, including premiere infor-
mation, brief plots, musical examples, and commentaries. Arranged by com-
poser, with title index. A very useful appendix (p.686–705) presents opera
composers with their operas—titles in original languages and dates. Concludes
with 200 illustrations of singers and scenes. No bibliography or general index.
The next title is similar: - Pahlen, Kurt. Pahlen Opern Lexikon. 2nd ed. Munich: Heyne, 1995. 1,023p.
ISBN 3-453-09088-8. ML102 .O6 P242.
First edition, 1974, as Das grosse Heyne Opernlexikon. A composer list of
about 1,600 operas, giving background, premiere information, and plots for
major works. With two title indexes: one of original language titles, the other
of German translations. Also a handy chronology of performances, 1986–
1995, with details. - Pallay, Steven G. Cross Index Title Guide to Opera and Operetta. Music Ref-
erence Collection, 19. New York: Greenwood, 1989. viii, 214p. ISBN 0-313-
2562-25. ML128 .O4 P3.
Described as a list of “more than 5,500 vocal and instrumental excerpts from
over 1,400 operas and operettas by 535 composers.” All principal arias and
numbers are identified under each opera title, and they are entered individually
as well, with reference to each opera. It should be noted that only the names of
the arias are given, not any musical “excerpts.”
51.Reclams Lexikon der Opernwelt in sechs Bänden. Ed. Rolf Fath. Stuttgart:
Reclam, 1998. 6v. ISBN 3-15-030018-5. ML102 .O6 F36.
Articles for composers, singers, and others connected with operatic matters;
extensive treatment of about 200 operas (plot, premiere data; titles in original
language and German), cities—a strong feature—and terms. No attribution to
authors of the articles, so it seems Fath wrote them all. Some bibliographies
with the articles; index of opera titles but no general index. - Riemann, Hugo. Opern-Handbuch.2nd ed. Leipzig: H. Seemann Nachfolger,
[189?]. 862p. ML102 .O6 R5.
There is no date in this revised edition; the first edition appeared in 1887 and a
supplement in 1893 (included in the revision). Operas, operettas, ballets, and
other stage works are listed by title. Information given is variable: plot syn-
opses, premiere data, and historical notes may appear. Not all the works were
performed. No index. - Seeger, Horst. Opern Lexikon. 3rd ed. Rev. Eberhard Schmidt. Wilhelms-
haven: F. Noetzel, 1987. 702p. ISBN 3-795-90271-1. ML102 O6 S4.
Cover title: Opernlexikon. A convenient resource, with more than 10,000
brief entries, covering persons, individual operas (without plots), terms, arias,
characters, and companies by city. Strong on Eastern Europe and Russia, less
valuable for U.S. No bibliographies, no index.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias 11