A graceful, learned introduction to Italian musical culture in the form of a
guide to each city. Considers history and landmarks of 34 cities. Sixteen plates,
bibliography, index.Elaine Brody’s guidebook (#144*) is also useful for landmarks.
2427.Annuario musicale italiano, 1–, 1990–. Rome: CIDM, 1990–. Annual. No
ISBN or ISSN given. ML21 .I88 A5.
Directory information for associations, performing groups, festivals, soloists,
publishers, journals, music business, competitions, music education, govern-
ment agencies. All opera houses and companies are listed, by city—a useful
source of their correct names, in Italian. The 1995 issue is in two volumes, the
first in 738 pages, with the second (93p.) being a name index. Another year-
book focuses on opera: Annuario EDI / CIDIM dell’opera lirica in Italia
(Turin: EDT, 1987–).Opera: Histories
- Bianconi, Lorenzo, and Giorgio Pestelli, ed. Storia dell’opera italiana. Turin:
EDT, 1987–1988. 6v. ISBN varies. ML1733.S75.
The standard history of opera in the country, each volume consisting of essays
by various specialists. Well documented and indexed (combined indexes in v.3
and v.6), with useful city indexes included. Composer indexes and valuable
title index with all the composers who set each text. An English translation of
v.4, part 2, as Opera Production and Its Resources,was done by Lydia G.
Cochrane (Chicago: U. of Chicago Press, 1998). - Austin, William W., ed. New Looks at Italian Opera: Essays in Honor of Don-
ald J. Grout.Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell U.P., 1968. ix, 290p. Reprint, Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood, 1976. ISBN 0-8371-8761-3. ML1733.1 .A92.
Consists of eight essays, of which the most useful are Claude Palisca, “The
Alterati of Florence, Pioneers in the Theory of Dramatic Music” (describing a
group that had priority over the Camerata in approach to the music drama);
Nino Pirrotta, “Early Opera and Aria” (#654); and William Carl Holmes,
“Giacinto Andrea Cicognini’s and Antonio Cesti’s Orontea,1649” (#682).
Indexed by name and title. - Kimbell, David R. B. Italian Opera.New York: Cambridge U.P., 1991. xviii,
684p. ISBN 0-521-23533-2. ML1733 .K55.
A popular-style overview of opera history, primarily covering to the end of the
19th century. Social and political background is well outlined, and representa-
tive operas are discussed. Monteverdi, Cesti, Metastasio, and Bellini get partic-
ular attention. Bibliography of some 400 items, expansive index. - Bonaventura, Arnaldo. Saggio storico sul teatro musicale italiano.Livorno:
Raffaello Giusti, 1913. xii, 414p. ML1733 .B77.
A well-documented narrative, covering the antecedents of opera, then the 16th
and 17th centuries by city, and general trends to 1910. Bibliography and index
of names and titles.
Italy 453