Opera

The Basics gives a brief introduction to 4 centuries of opera, ideal for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this important musical style. After a brief introduction, the book is organized in two parts: Terms and Topics; and Genres and Styles. In the first part, the author traces the origins of opera, and then introduces the student to its basic terminology. In Part II, the author traces the history of major opera genres, including serious opera; comic opera; semi-serious opera; and vernacular opera. Throughout, sidebars offer studies of key issues. The book concludes with a bibliography, discography, and videography.