The Wordsworth A-Z of OperaThis reference is a companion to "The Wordsworth Book of Opera". It explains technical terms, outlines the plots, together with anecdotes of famous performances both light-hearted and dramatic. There are brief biographies of singers, conductors, composers and those behind the scenes. |
Common terms and phrases
acclaimed acting ability Aida America amongst ances aria audience baritone bass Bayreuth beautiful best known Boris Britain British Carlos Carmen century characters chorus classic composer concert conducted conductor contemporary Covent Garden created daughter death debut Don Giovanni dramatic English National Opera English soprano enjoy Europe Falstaff father Festival film formances French German Glyndebourne grand opera Handel international career Italian Janacek Jenufa King La Scala La Traviata libretto London lover lyrical Macbeth Marriage of Figaro marry Metropolitan Opera Milan Mozart murder Music Director notable opera companies opera goer Opera North orchestra Otello Paris particularly Peter Grimes piece play plot popular poser production Puccini realizes rehearsal repertoire repertory Rigoletto Rossini Royal Opera House sang Scala singing soprano stage story Strauss style successful sung superb tenor theatre tion title role Tosca tour Traviata Verdi Verdi's Vienna voice Wagner Welsh National Opera wife world premiere written wrote York young