"The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, is a comprehensive resource on the study of opera designed for scholars and opera aficionados. Its 11,000 articles, written by more than 1,300 of the world's leading critics and scholars, cover 1,800 operas from the late 16th century Florentine Camerata, through the great 18th and 19th century operas, to contemporary works such as the minimalist theatre pieces of Philip Glass. The lives and works of more than 2900 composers and hundreds of singers from Francesco Rasi in the 17th century to Luciano Pavarotti in the 20th are discussed in biographical articles. Indexes of character names and arias make it easy to find what you are looking for. Illustrations throughout the book present rare photographs, reproductions of original posters, set and costume designs, and scenes from modern productions."--Publisher's description.