"Anthony Gishford has collaborated with five other distinguished writers on opera, Harold Rosenthal, Tony Mayer, Horst Koegler, Patrick Carnegy and Richard Comyns Carr, to record the many widespread artistic achievements which this extravagant medium has inspired over the centuries. The text is written with a dry humor which, while not hesitating to poke fun at the pomopous targets of the opera world, never forgets that this is an art form which inspires passionate devotion as well as uncomprehending dismay. The book is divided into twelve national sections and within each of these the individual opera houses are separately treated. There has never, until now, been a book which attempted to explore this subject with such wide scope. Illustrations of the architecture, of historic performances, of programs, prints and all the lore of the operatic stage make the book a vivid contribution to this branch of theater history." --