Another table gives their range, register, and timbre. Indexed by role, voice
type, opera, and composer.- Bourne, Joyce. Who’s Who in Opera: A Guide to Opera Characters. New
York: Oxford U.P., 1998. xviii, 457p. ISBN 0-19-210023-8. ML102 .O6 B68.
An alphabetical list of some 2,000 characters, with detailed accounts of their
parts in the stories and titles of their arias. The first singer of each role is iden-
tified. List of composers represented and their operas, but no index. - Brockway, Wallace, and Herbert Weinstock. The World of Opera: The Story
of Its Origins and the Lore of Its Performance. New York: Pantheon, 1962.
731p. ML1700 .B86 O7.
An excellent handbook of data on 253 operas, generally representing the mid-
century repertoire. Gives premiere date and theater, with cast, and a summary
performance history, emphasizing the U.S. and offering negative as well as
affirmative appraisals. Information is accurate; historical highlights are aptly
selected. - Clément, Félix, and Pierre Larousse. Dictionnaire des opéras... Rev. ed. Ed.
Arthur Pougin. Paris: Larousse, 1905. 1,203p. Reprint, New York: Da Capo,
1969; 2v. ML102 .O6 C42.
First edition, 1869, as Dictionnaire lyrique.A list of about 20,000 operas and
operettas that were actually performed, with dates of premieres, language,
number of acts, and names of composers and librettists. Some non-French
titles are given only in French translation. Composer index. - Dassori, Carlo. Opere e operisti (dizionario lirico 1541–1902).. .Genoa: Isti-
tuto Sordomuti, 1903. 977p. Reprint, Bologna: Forni, 1979. ML102 .O6 D2.
A list of 15,406 operas, with premiere dates, and birth and death dates for the
composers. - Ewen, David.The New Encyclopedia of the Opera. 3rd ed. New York: Hill &
Wang, 1971. vii, 759p. ISBN 0-8090-7262-9. ML102 .O6 E9.
Ewen’s 75th book, this is a well-revised version of the 1955 original. It pre-
sents a vast array of information: operatic terms, stories, characters, singers,
houses, festivals, literary sources, and topical articles. Marred by frequent
errors of historical fact and lack of an index. - Griffel, Margaret Ross. Operas in German: A Dictionary.New York: Green-
wood, 1990. xxviii, 735p. ISBN 0-313-25244-0. ML102 O6 G75.
A title list of 380 operas with German libretti, covering 1627–1989, with pre-
miere data, plot, and program notes. Also an appendix of 1,250 other titles
without details. All the composers were born before 1919, so most recent
works are excluded. An earnest effort, but in sum it is useful only to someone
who has to see a list of German operas. Good bibliography; index of charac-
ters and performers.
8 Opera